Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted in the death of George Floyd, was reportedly stabbed in federal prison on Friday, suffering serious injuries. The assault occurred at the Federal Correctional Institution in Tucson, Arizona. The Federal Bureau of Prisons confirmed the incident but did not specify whether Chauvin was the victim.
Chauvin, 47, is serving a 21-year federal sentence for violating George Floyd’s civil rights and a concurrent 22.5 years for murder, as per his conviction in Minnesota state court. Floyd’s death in 2020 triggered global protests against police brutality and racism after Chauvin, a white officer, knelt on Floyd’s neck for over nine minutes, as captured in a widely circulated video.
The Bureau of Prisons released a statement acknowledging the assault, mentioning that prison staff responded promptly, initiated life-saving measures, and the injured individual was taken to the hospital by emergency services. The Bureau did not provide additional details, and the identity of the inmate involved was not disclosed.
Chauvin’s defense team, Halberg Criminal Defense, declined to comment on the reported stabbing. Greg Erickson, a member of Chauvin’s appellate team, also stated that he had no knowledge of the incident.
Chauvin’s appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court regarding his state court murder conviction was recently declined. He had argued that jury bias and certain court rulings denied him a fair trial. Chauvin’s fellow officers involved in Floyd’s arrest, Tou Thao, J. Alexander Keung, and Thomas Lane, have also faced convictions on lesser state and federal charges
