An alternate juror in the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was worried about her safety should people be upset with the verdict the jury reached, she said.
When the trial started, Brooklyn Center resident Lisa Christensen had “mixed feelings” about being a juror and wrote that she didn’t know how she felt about being one in a questionnaire, she said Thursday.
BIDEN CALLED GEORGE FLOYD FAMILY TO OFFER PRAYERS AHEAD OF VERDICT
“The reason, at that time, was I did not know what the outcome was going to be, so I felt like either way you are going to disappoint one group or the other,” she told KARE 11. “I did not want to go through rioting and destruction again, and I was concerned about people coming to my house if they were not happy with the verdict.”
Chauvin was found guilty Wednesday of second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter in connection to the death of George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man.
Having seen the testimony from experts and law enforcement officers, Christensen too would have “voted guilty,” she said.
“I feel like Chauvin is responsible for Mr. Floyd’s death,” she added.
Christensen specifically pointed to the testimony of Dr. Martin Tobin and of Los Angeles Police Department Sgt. Jody Stiger as to what swayed her decision.
Before the jury came to a verdict, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz declared a state of emergency and announced his intent to surge officers from nearby states to stave off possible violence following the verdict.
The area was experiencing unrest following the death of Daunte Wright, 20, on April 11, who was shot and killed by former Brooklyn Center officer Kim Potter, who is believed to have mistaken her gun for a Taser. Potter was arrested and charged with manslaughter.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Dozens have found themselves behind bars since April 13 for widespread looting, attacks on law enforcement, and defying curfew orders, which is similar to what happened following Floyd’s death on May 25, 2020.
Nationwide protests occurred in the days after Floyd was killed, and in some cases, demonstrators turned to looting and clashed with law enforcement officials.
