Minn. attorney general announces additional charges in Floyd case

June 3, 2020 Michael US 0

FILE – In this Wednesday, May 27, 2020, file photo, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison answers questions during a news conference in St. Paul, Minn., about the investigation into the death of George Floyd, who died May 25, while in the custody of Minneapolis police officers. (John Autey/Pioneer Press via AP, Pool, File)

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UPDATED 1:22 PM PT — Wednesday, June 3, 2020

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has announced additional charges in connection with the killing of George Floyd. On Wednesday, Ellison announced he has upgraded former Officer Derek Chauvin‘s third-degree murder charge to a second-degree murder charge.

He also revealed charges of aiding and abetting second-degree murder against former Minneapolis Police Department Officers Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Keung and Tou Thao. Lane and Keung took part in restraining Floyd during last week’s incident, while Thao was also at the scene of the altercation.

“We’re here today because George Floyd is not here. He should be here, he should be alive, but he’s not. About nine days ago, the world watched Floyd utter his very last words ‘I can’t breathe’ as he pled for his life. The world heard Floyd call out for his mama and cried out, ‘Don’t kill me.’”

Minnesota Attorney General @keithellison: “Today, I filed an amended complaint that charges former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin with murder in the 2nd degree for the death of George Floyd.”

Full video here: https://t.co/MCWQXN84W3 pic.twitter.com/2JVhzRgK1E

— CSPAN (@cspan) June 3, 2020

Chauvin’s bail has now been increased to $1 million from $500,000. At least one of other former officers charged has been taken into custody.

Quincy Mason, son of George Floyd, listens Wednesday, June 3, 2020 as family attorney Ben Crump, left, addresses a news conference as they and some Floyd family members visit the site in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)

This came after Floyd family attorney Benjamin Crump suggested the charges would likely be upgraded for Chauvin. During a recent interview, he also confirmed that charges were coming for the other three officers.

“We heard that they expect to charge those officers,” Floyd family lawyer Benjamin Crump says when asked about the other three officers involved at the scene of George Floyd’s death. pic.twitter.com/EzlUENWVsy

— TODAY (@TODAYshow) June 2, 2020

The attorney issued a statement prior to Wednesday’s announcement, saying the officers’ arrest was a “bittersweet moment for the family of George Floyd.”

@AttorneyCrump, the legal team, & the family of #GeorgeFloyd have released the following statement about the arrest of the other three MPD officers involved in the death of George Floyd and the addition of a felony second-degree murder charge against fired officer Derek Chauvin. pic.twitter.com/t0bsDyc1fq

— Ben Crump Law, PLLC (@BenCrumpLaw) June 3, 2020

When asked about the ongoing protests and riots, Crump said the only way to tamp down public outrage is to have police accountability and equal justice.