Derek Chauvin charged with 3rd-degree murder

Derek Chauvin, former Minneapolis police officer, has been charged with 3rd-degree murder and manslaughter in the killing of George Floyd.

The former Minneapolis police officer shown on video putting his knee on the neck of George Floyd was arrested on Friday , authorities said.

Derek Chauvin, who was fired on Tuesday along with three other officers involved in the detainment of Floyd, was taken into custody Friday and faces charges of 3rd-degree murder and manslaughter, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced.

Floyd pleaded "I can't breathe," as Chauvin, who is white, kneeled on Floyd's neck for around eight minutes on Monday night, in an arrest that was videotaped by bystanders. The police department initially said Floyd, who was black, "physically resisted" the officers and that he died after "suffering medical distress."

Freeman said he anticipated more charges to come, possibly against some of the other three officers.

“The investigation is ongoing," Freeman said, "We felt it was appropriate to focus on the most dangerous perpetrator. This case has moved with extraordinary speed.”

Just 24 hours earlier, Freeman had said the case still needed more investigation.

But by Friday, Freeman said enough evidence had been gathered.

"All of that has come together and we felt, in our professional judgement, it was time to charge," Freeman told reporters.

Source - nbcnews