The former Minneapolis Police officer, Derek Chauvin, who pressed his knee into George Floyd’s neck was charged with second-degree murder and the three other officers on scene during his killing were charged with aiding and abetting.

Thomas Lane, J.A. Kueng and Tou Thao are all charged with aiding and abetting, while Derek Chauvin, the ring leader has his case escalated to 2nd degree murder with intent, he was initially charged with 3rd degree murder without intent, a possible additional 15yrs jail term, he now faces the possibilities of 40yrs behind bars.

Like the case of Ahmaud Arbery, it took another state attorney general to move the case forward significantly. The Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman was relieved from the case while Keith Ellison of Minnesota took over the case.

The death of George Floyd follows similar pattern of long list of use of fatal force by police, particularly against unarmed African-American, but the gruesome beastial behaviour of Derek Chauvin captured on the cameras of bystanders nonchalantly pocketing his hands and looking away while pressing his knee into George Floyd’s neck for a sustained length of time despite the victim’s plea for mercy marked a turning point with the resultant protests accompanied by riots and defiance, despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and curfew.