Three more officers involved in George Floyd killing are CHARGED 
Fired Minneapolis police officers Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao have been charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder 
They have also been charged with second degree aiding and abetting manslaughter 
Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng were simultaneously kneeling on Floyd as Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck while he suffocated 
Tou Thao stood by and watched as the murder unfolded
Chauvin’s charges have been upgraded to 2nd degree murder which is more severe than the 3rd degree murder, what he was previously facing
He faces three charges; 2nd degree murder, 3rd degree murder and 2nd degree manslaughter 
The most severe charges carry a maximum sentence of 40 years imprisonment   
All were fired but the reluctance to bring charges against the disgraced cops sparked global outrage, protests and unrest across the US 
Floyd’s family have been calling for all of the officers to be brought to justice
Feds announced they would be stepping in to conduct independent investigations and Minnesota state AG Keith Ellison took over the case from the County AG, after faith in local authorities evaporated 
The family attorney said all four being charged is a ‘bittersweet moment’  because they want Chauvin to be charged with first degree murder 
Tou Thao [left],looks on as Derek Chauvin, J.A. Kueng and Thomas Lane [right], kneelig on George Floyd on May 1, 2020Officer Tou Thao [left], looks on as officers Derek Chauvin, J.A. Kueng and Thomas Lane [right], kneeling on George Floyd on May 1, 2020

All four of the officers involved in George Floyd’s death have now been charged and face 40 years behind bars.
Former Minneapolis police officers Thomas Lane, J.A. Kueng and Tou Thao have been charged with aiding and abetting felony murder. All now face 40 years behind bars for their roles in George Floyd’s death.
Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao were all present when Derek Chauvin knelt on Floyd’s neck in Minneapolis on Monday for eight minutes and 46 seconds.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Minnesota AG charged the trio with aiding and abetting second degree murder which carries a maximum sentence of 40 years.
Chauvin was originally charged with second degree murder which carries a maximum sentence of 25 years but he now faces 40 years behind bars too after being hit with an additional charge of second degree murder.

Thomas Lane, [left], J.A. Kueng [center], and Tou Thao [right] 2Former Minneapolis police officers Thomas Lane, J Alexander Kueng [center], and Tou Thao [right] have been charged with aiding and abetting felony murder. All now face 40 years behind bars for their roles in George Floyd’s death

The charges come after a week of global outrage and civil unrest across America during which millions called for the officers to be brought to justice.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said at a press conference on Wednesday afternoon: ‘I strongly believe these developments are in the interest of justice for Mr Floyd, his family, this community and this state.’
He said he did not allow public pressure to influence his decision and warned it would be ‘months’ before he and his team had build a ‘solid’ enough case to go to trial.
Chauvin is already in custody and one of the other three cops was taken into custody today. The other two are expected to be taken into custody by the end of the day.

Derek Chauvin 7Derek Chauvin [photo], who was seen in the viral video kneeling on George Floyd’s neck had been arrested earlier on third-degree murder and aggravated assault. His charges were upgraded Wednesday when AG Keith Ellison announced that second-degree murder has been filed against him. He faces 40 years in prison for the murder
Updated charges against Derek Chauvin 1The updated complaint against Derek Chauvin that was filed on Wednesday afternoon charging him with second degree murder

Derek Chauvin the principal actor seen in the viral video kneeling on the victim’s neck had been arrested earlier on Third-degree murder and aggravated assault. His violations have been increased when AG Keith Ellis announced that second-degree murder has been filed against him. He also faces 40 years behind bars for the murder of 46-year-old George Floyd.
The Chauvin has been charged with second degree murder charge that Chauvin now faces is a more severe charge than third degree murder.
After another angle of the infamous video showed Chauvin with his knee on Floyd’s neck and the three other cops right beside him in Minneapolis last Monday, those officers have been charged with aiding and abetting which also carries a 40 year maximum sentence.

 

Charges against Thomas Lane 1Charges against Tou Thao 1

The complaint against former officers Thomas Lane, Tou Thao and J Alexander Kueng filed on Wednesday afternoon charged them with aiding and abetting felony second-degree murder
George Floyd 746-year-old George Floyd [photo], a father-of-two, died last Monday after begging for his life for nearly nine minutes while Chauvin knelt on his neck. Lane and Kueng were also kneeling on his torso and limbs simultaneously, while officer Thao stood by and watched
Quincy Mason Floyd 2The victim’s son Quincy Mason Floyd [center] grieves at the site where his father died on Wednesday afternoon. A video of his six-year-old half-sister Gianna where she says ‘Daddy changed the world’ has gone viral 
George Floyd's son Quincy Mason Floyd [center] visited the site where his father died in Minneapolis last MondayQuincy Mason Floyd [center] flanked by his attorney Ben Crump [left] addressed the crowd  when he visited the site where his father died in Minneapolis on Wednesday

At his press conference, AG Ellison thanked the public for giving him time to bring the charges. ‘I asked for time for to review all the evidence. The investigation is ongoing at this time. I know it’s asking a lot of people to give us time and yet we did get that time.

‘Together, a very strong experienced team, we reviewed the evidence and we have something to announce today.
‘Thank you for the patience of the people they’ve shown me in pursuit of justice,’ he said.
He added that the case was under investigation and asked for anyone with evidence to come forward with it.
‘We are investigating as quickly as we can and as thoroughly as we can. Every single link in the prosecutorial chain must be strong.
‘Trying this case will not be an easy thing. George Floyd mattered. His life had value and we will seek justice for him and for you and we will find it,’ said Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison on Wednesday’s news conference.
‘I say this not because we doubt our resources or our ability but history does show there are clear challenges here and we are going to be working very hard to support that endeavor.
‘To the Floyd family, I say: George Floyd mattered. His life had value and we will seek justice for him and for you and we will find it.
‘The very fact that we have filed these charges means that we believe in it.’
He warned the investigation would take ‘months’ and said he wanted to build a ‘solid case’ and not rush a trial.
‘It will take a while and I can’t set a deadline on that, he said.

Keith Ellison 1Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announcing the charges on Wednesday afternoon against officers Lane, Kueng and Thao. He also announced the upgraded charges against Derek Chauvin

Ellison added that the charges being brought should not bring an end to the global outrage over injustice that Floyd’s death has caused.
‘A protest can shake a tree and make the fruit fall down but after that fruit is in reach, collecting it and making the jam must follow.
‘The demonstrations and protests are dramatic and necessary but building just institutions is more of a slow grind. We have to begin that work now,’ he said.
The Floyd family called the charges a ‘bittersweet moment’. They wanted Chauvin to be hit with first degree murder charges.
All four cops were fired when the video surfaced last week but the three others were not charged initially, to the dismay of Floyd and protesters around the world who say they are just as complicit because they did nothing to prevent Floyd’s death.
The case was taken out of the hands of Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman and handed over to Minnesota AG Keith Ellison earlier this week after a groundswell of outrage over how the case had been handled to date.

Quincy Mason Floyd 1Quincy Mason Floyd, [center] Wednesday kneels at the spot where his dad was killed by Minneapolis police officers
Protesters Wednesday crowd the site in Minneapolis where George Floyd was killed on May 1The site where George Floyd was killed on May 1 has now become a tribute to him. As protesters  crowded the site in Minneapolis, his brother Terrence Floyd is shown weeping during his visit on Wednesday