Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is charging the three other officers present during the George Floyd killing, and Derek Chauvin will now face a second-degree murder charge, according to court documents filed on Wednesday.
Footage of Chauvin pressing his knee onto Floyd’s neck – despite the prone man saying he couldn’t breathe – went viral and drew widespread condemnation. The officer was fired over the incident and was initially charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter. According to the court documents, Chauvin now faces charges of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.
Protesters across the nation have demanded that the three other officers at the scene of the incident – which began as a response to a suspected forgery – be held accountable as well.
“This is another important step for justice,” Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar tweeted, in response to the attorney general’s decision.
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