George Floyd’s family spoke out on the charges against the Minneapolis police officer who allegedly killed him, saying they don’t go far enough.
Derek Chauvin was charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter for kneeling on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes to restrain him until he was unresponsive.
The family said in a statement that it welcomes the charges as an “overdue” step toward justice but expected a first-degree murder charge.
“We want a first-degree murder charge,” the Floyds said. “We want to see the other officers arrested. We call on authorities to revise the charges to reflect the true culpability of this officer. The pain that the black community feels over this murder and what it reflects about the treatment of black people in America is raw and is spilling out onto the streets of America.”
The death of Floyd has led to several nights of unrest within Minneapolis and other major cities across the country as protesters demand justice for the officers involved.
Chauvin and three other officers involved with the detainment of Floyd, who died Monday, were fired Tuesday. Aside from Chauvin, no other officers have been charged with any crimes.
A third-degree murder charge is defined as a person not intending to cause the death of another person and can result in a sentence of up to 25 years in prison in Minnesota.
A first-degree murder charge is the most serious homicide charge, and the prosecution would need to show evidence of someone showing premeditated malice and planning to kill another person.
Floyd’s family is being represented by nationally recognized civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump.
