New Details Surrounding George Floyd’s Death Emerge

New footage from officers’ Thomas Lane and Alexander Kueng’s body cams show that officer Derek Chauvin held his knee on George Floyd’s neck for longer than previously estimated – roughly 9 and a half minutes. Floyd’s death on May 25 sparked a series of protests against racism and police brutality in Minneapolis, which took the over the US, and the world, by storm.

Longer than Previously Estimated

The video footage shows Lane approaching Floyd’s car and startling the man by tapping on the driver’s side window with his flashlight, demanding to see Floyd’s hands as Lane pulled his service weapon out. After a moment of confusion, Floyd placed his hands on the wheel and was handcuffed shortly after. 

Lane and Kueng attempted to push Floyd into the back of their squad car as he resisted, saying that he was suffering from claustrophobia and had recently recovered from COVID-19. After failing multiple times to get Floyd inside the vehicle, Chauvin pins him down, placing his knee on Floyd’s neck for roughly 9 1⁄2 minutes, the video shows – longer than the previously estimated 8 minutes and 46 seconds. 

Derek Chauvin, the officer, responsible for killing Floyd, has been charged with second-degree murder, while the three others present at the scene, Tou Thao, Lane, and Kueng, face charges of aiding and abetting murder.