Guilty On All Charges

Jurors found the former Minneapolis police officer guilty of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter, sending a powerful message about police violence. Chauvin’s conviction, in a rare case without modern precedent, was called historic by Floyd’s family and legal team, who said it symbolized that justice is attainable for all Americans.

“Let’s pause for a moment to proclaim this historical moment, not just for the legacy of George Floyd, but for the legacy of America, the legacy of trying to make America for all Americans so that George Floyd’s victory and America’s quest for equal justice under the law will be intertwined,” civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents the Floyd family, said at a news conference after the verdict was announced. “This is a victory for those who champion humanity over inhumanity, those who champion justice over injustice, those who champion morals over immorality.”

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, whose office oversaw Chauvin’s prosecution, praised the “bouquet of humanity” that tried to intervene at the scene on May 25 and recorded Floyd’s final moments, providing much of the evidence for the state’s case.

“They didn’t know George Floyd. They didn’t know he had a beautiful family. They didn’t know that he was a proud father or had people in his life who loved him,” Ellison said after hearing the verdict. “They stopped and they raised their voices because they knew what they were seeing was wrong. They didn’t need to be medical or use-of-force experts. They knew it was wrong, and they were right,” Ellison said.

“He changed my world. He changed our world. He changed the world,” said Floyd’s girlfriend Courteney Ross, whose heart-wrenching testimony about the couple’s struggle with opioid addiction moved some jurors to tears. After the verdict was read, Chauvin, who had been free on bail, was immediately handcuffed and taken into custody. He faces up to 40 years in prison when he is sentenced in about eight weeks.