2-12-2023 (PHOENIX) Former police officer Derek Chauvin, notorious for the murder of George Floyd that sparked widespread protests, was stabbed more than 20 times by a fellow inmate in an Arizona prison, according to US prosecutors. The attack took place in the prison’s law library last month. Chauvin, who was sentenced to over two decades in prison for Floyd’s murder, was knelt on Floyd’s neck for nine minutes, leading to his death.
The suspect, identified as John Turscak, explained to investigators that he chose the date of the attack, Black Friday, deliberately to reference the Black Lives Matter movement. Turscak allegedly told corrections officers that he would have killed Chauvin if they hadn’t responded quickly. The US District Attorney’s Office in Tucson has charged Turscak with attempted murder, assault with intent to commit murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, and assault resulting in serious bodily injury.
Although the official statement and complaint do not mention Chauvin’s full name, a reliable source confirmed that it was indeed him. The charge of attempted murder carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. There is currently no information available about Chauvin’s condition following the attack.
Chauvin’s conviction in 2021 included second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter. The incident, captured on video, painted a different picture from the initial police news release, which downplayed the severity of the situation. A Justice Department investigation into the Minneapolis police, released in June 2023, revealed a pattern of violent and racially biased practices within the department, including the use of unjustified deadly force.
Minneapolis, located in the state of Minnesota, settled a wrongful death lawsuit filed by George Floyd’s family, agreeing to pay them $27 million. Chauvin, however, unsuccessfully appealed his second-degree murder conviction.
