On Friday, June 25, at 1:30 p.m., former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin will be sentenced for the murder of George Floyd. It has been over a year since Floyd was killed during his interaction with the police.
Looking back over the last year, here are the events that led to the sentencing of Chauvin and what most are calling justice for Floyd.
Monday, May 25, 2020: Officers were called when Floyd reportedly used a counterfeit form of payment at the Cup Foods located at the intersection of 38th and Chicago Avenue in Minneapolis.
Four Minneapolis police officers arrived and began interacting with Floyd, which resulted in him being brought to the ground. While on the ground, Floyd was held under the knee of then-officer Chauvin. Darnella Frazier stood by watching and recording as Floyd screamed out, “I can’t breathe.”
After spending close to 10 minutes under Chauvin’s knee, Floyd became unresponsive, and emergency medical responders arrived on the scene. Floyd was declared dead sometime later.
The video recorded by Darnella Frazier was released online, sparking protests across the country and the world.
Tuesday, May 26, 2020: The four officers who responded to the call were fired, and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey responded on Twitter, saying it was “The right call.”
Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced that the officers involved in Floyd’s death had not yet been arrested.
Governor Tim Walz announced that action would be taken.
Wednesday, May 27, 2020: Protests raged throughout Minneapolis in response to the death of Floyd. Civil unrest resulted in the governor putting curfews in place.
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Thursday, May 28, 2020: Chauvin was charged for the death of Floyd and brought into custody. Chauvin is initially charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.
The same night that Chauvin’s mug shot was released, unrest grew in the city as protestors gathered outside the third police precinct. Officers abandoned the building, and it was burned by some who got through the barricade and into the building.
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Sunday, May 31, 2020: Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison took over the case from Freeman, becoming the lead on the case.
On the same day, Chauvin was transferred to a maximum-security prison in Oak Park Heights.
Monday, June 3, 2020: Additional charges were brought against the three other officers on the scene when Floyd lost his life.
Ellison immediately added an additional second-degree unintentional murder charge. Four days later, bail is set for Chauvin at $1.25 million.
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Thursday, September 10, 2020: The two-week jury selection process date is set, and it is announced that the trial will be held in a four-week format.
Thursday, October 22, 2020: The third-degree murder charge is dropped against Chauvin.
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Monday, March 8, 2021: Trial proceedings begin. Judge Peter Cahill, who presided over the case, estimates that the jury selection would take three weeks. Three days after the proceeding starts, the third-degree murder charge is reinstated.
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Tuesday, March 23, 2021: The 15th and final juror is selected for Chauvin’s trial.
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Monday, March 29, 2021: Opening statements for Chauvin’s trial began.
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Monday, April 12, 2021: The death of Daunte Wright at the hands of the Brooklyn Center police results in a request for Judge Cahill to sequester the jury.
Cahill denies the request, and the trial continued.
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Thursday, April 15, 2021: Testimony in Chauvin’s trial comes to a close. Statements were heard from Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo, Frazier, and many others.
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Monday, April 19, 2021: Closing arguments in each case are made. The jury is dismissed to discuss the case and come to their decision.
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Tuesday, April 20, 2021: After 10 hours of discussing the case, the jury came to their decision. Chauvin was found guilty of all three charges brought against him.
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