The jury delivered three guilty verdicts Tuesday evening in the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin for his role in the death of George Floyd.
Chauvin was facing three charges — second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter. He pleaded not guilty on all three counts.
Both sides gave their closing arguments Monday, the prosecution insisting Floyd did not pose a threat to the officers on the scene and pushing the point that the entire profession is not on trial, just this one former police officer. The defense argued that the entire episode should be seen in context and that the cause of Floyd’s death was drugs and heart disease.
Cities in Minnesota and across the nation were bracing for riots if Chauvin had not deemed guilty by the jury.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat, said beforehand, “In this moment, it’s our goal together, the mayors, the community organizers, people across the state, from law enforcement to ministerial associations, is to try and make sure that we strike that proper balance of making sure that the peace and stability is upheld. But that equally as important is that rage that will be on the street, regardless of what happens, is channeled into a positive way. And that positive way means change.”
“If we don’t listen to those communities in pain and those people on the streets, many of whom were arrested for speaking a fundamental truth that we must change or we will be right back here again,” Walz said.
This is breaking news. CBN News contributed to this report.