Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of murdering George Floyd, was stabbed by another inmate and seriously injured Friday at a federal prison in Arizona, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, whose office successfully prosecuted Chauvin on second-degree murder charges, confirmed the attack to the StarTribune.
In his statement to the Twin Cities-based newspaper, Ellison said that Chauvin was duly convicted, but like anyone else, should not fear violence or retaliation while serving his sentence.
This comes less than a week after the US Supreme Court rejected Chauvin's appeal of his state conviction.
The attack happened at the Federal Correctional Institution, Tucson, a medium-security prison that has been plagued by security lapses and staffing shortages.
The person was not authorized to publicly discuss details of the attack and spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity.
The Bureau of Prisons confirmed that an incarcerated person was assaulted at FCI Tucson at around 12:30 p.m. local time Friday.
In a statement, the agency said responding employees contained the incident and performed “life-saving measures” before the inmate, who it did not name, was taken to a hospital for further treatment and evaluation.