Officer in Floyd killing convicted on all c8k8 free to 88harges

Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin has been found guilty on all three counts in the murder of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, by putting a knee on his neck for more than nine minutes.

The 12 members of the jury — four African Americans, six white and two of mixed race reached a unanimous verdict after nearly 10 hours of deliberation over two days.

Chauvin was charged with second-degree unintentional murder, which can carry up to a 40-year prison sentence; third-degree murder, which has a maximum 25-year sentence; and second-degree manslaughter, up to a 10-year sentence.

Judge Peter A. Cahill read the verdict at 4:03 pm.

Chauvin, wearing a gray suit and face mask, looked stunned as he listened to the verdict. He looked toward the jury in disbelief.

An officer handcuffed him and led him out of the courtroom.

The judge said that he will be sentenced in eight weeks.

Ben Crump, the Floyd family's attorney said in a statement: "GUILTY! Painfully earned justice has finally arrived for George Floyd's family. This verdict is a turning point in history and sends a clear message on the need for accountability of law enforcement. Justice for Black America is justice for all of America!"

Floyd's death on May 25, caught on video camera, went viral after it showed Chauvin, who is white, kneeling on Floyd's neck for nine minutes and 29 seconds.

Chauvin appeared calm, with his hands in his pockets, sunglasses on his head as he knelt on Floyd's neck.

Floyd lay face down on the ground during the arrest over an alleged counterfeit $20 bill. Floyd pleaded for his life, repeatedly saying, "I can't breathe."

After the verdict was announced, crowds gathered outside the courthouse and at the location where Floyd died, many held "Black Lives Matter" signs and some chanted "yes!" Others held their fists in the air.

Barriers have been placed near the city's courthouse. Some streets where there were protests last year are closed.

Police precincts in Minneapolis have been cordoned off in case there is rioting.

Philonise Floyd, the brother of George Floyd, was in the courtroom with the family's attorney Ben Crump while the verdict was read.

Floyd told CNN: "For the rest of the country, this will be a historic decision, but for the family, it will be deeply personal. For us this is our heart that has been deeply affected."

Several demonstrations took place recently against police brutality in New York, Portland, Oregon, North Carolina and in Chicago, where a 13-year-old boy was fatally shot by police.

Floyd's death also sparked international condemnation with protests for "Black Lives Matter" erupting in 60 countries, including England, Hungary, France.

More than 3,000 National Guard are patrolling Minneapolis and St. Paul's streets. Over 1,100 officers from the Hennepin County Sheriff's office, Minneapolis Police Department and other local agencies are on call.

At least 450 police officers from the Minnesota State Patrol are on standby.

"We stand on the brink of a historic week in our state and in our country and certainly for the policing profession," said Colonel Matthew Langer, chief of the Minnesota State Patrol.

"We want peaceful assembly," Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo said at a news conference. "We want peaceful protest. We know that we have a city that is mourning. That they're in grief. The last thing that we want to do is turn this thing into an enforcement situation."

President Joe Biden was to address the nation after the verdict.

Earlier on Tuesday, Biden weighed in on the Chauvin case during a news conference at the White House on Tuesday and said he was "praying" for a guilty verdict.

"I'm praying the verdict is the right verdict, which is — I think it's overwhelming, in my view. I wouldn't say that unless the jury was sequestered now, not hearing me say that."