Derek Chauvin

Derek Chauvin
Mugshot of Chauvin from April 2021
Born
Derek Michael Chauvin

(1976-03-19) March 19, 1976 (age 48)
Oakdale, Minnesota, U.S.
EducationDakota County Technical College
Alma materMetropolitan State University (BS)
Known forMurder of George Floyd
Criminal statusIncarcerated at FCI Big Spring[8]
Conviction(s)
TrialTrial of Derek Chauvin
Criminal penalty
  • Federal sentence: 21 years imprisonment[5][6]
  • State sentence: 22+1⁄2 years imprisonment[7]
Details
Victims
  • George Floyd (murdered)
  • Unnamed juvenile (unreasonable force)
Date
  • May 25, 2020 (murder of Floyd)
  • September 4, 2017 (unreasonable force to juvenile)
CountryUnited States
State(s)Minnesota
Date apprehended
May 29, 2020
Imprisoned atFCI Big Spring
Police career
DepartmentMinneapolis Police Department
Service years2001–2020
Military career
Allegiance United States
Service / branchUnited States Army Reserve
Years1996–2004

Derek Michael Chauvin (/ˈʃoʊvən/ SHOH-vən; born March 19, 1976) is an American former police officer who murdered George Floyd, a 46-year-old African American man, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. On May 25, 2020, Chauvin knelt on Floyd's neck for about nine minutes while Floyd was handcuffed and lying face down on the street, calling out "I can't breathe," during an arrest made with three other officers. Chauvin was dismissed by the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) on May 26 and arrested on May 29. The murder set off a series of protests in Minneapolis–Saint Paul, across the United States and around the world.

Chauvin was a member of the Minneapolis Police Department from 2001 to 2020. In his career, Chauvin had 18 complaints against him in his official record and was involved in three police shootings, one of which was fatal.[9][10][11][12] He received two letters of reprimand for misconduct.[13] He received two medals of valor and two commendation medals during his career.

In early 2021, Chauvin was put on trial for unintentional second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter of Floyd before a jury in the Minnesota Fourth Judicial District Court. On April 20, he was convicted on all of the charges. On June 25, he was sentenced to 22+1⁄2 years in prison (with credit given for 199 days time served), with the possibility of supervised release after 15 years (two thirds of his sentence) contingent on factors such as good behavior.[14][15][16] Requests to the Minnesota Supreme Court and the Supreme Court of the United States for review were denied.[17]

Chauvin pleaded guilty in late 2021 to federal charges of violating Floyd's civil rights by using unreasonable force and ignoring Floyd's serious medical needs.[18][19] Simultaneously, Chauvin pleaded guilty to violating a 14-year-old boy's civil rights in 2017 by using unreasonable force.[19] In mid-2022, Chauvin was sentenced to 21 years in prison for violating Floyd's civil rights.[20] The federal and state sentences are to run concurrently.[21] The Minnesota Department of Corrections lists Chauvin's anticipated release date on the state sentence as December 10, 2035.[22] For the federal charges, Chauvin will likely be released from prison in the year 2038.[23] Chauvin filed a motion in federal court in mid-November 2023 attempting to vacate his guilty plea.[24][25]

After the conclusion of the criminal and civil rights cases, Chauvin was transferred in August 2022 from Oak Park Heights Prison in Minnesota to FCI Tucson in Arizona, a medium-security federal facility, to serve his sentence.[26] He was stabbed by another inmate at the federal facility on November 24, 2023.[27][25] Subsequently, he was transferred to FCI Big Spring on August 20, 2024.[28]

  1. ^ McCaskill, Nolan D.; Forgey, Quint (April 20, 2021). "Derek Chauvin convicted of murdering George Floyd". Politico. Archived from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  2. ^ Xiong, Chao; Walsh, Paul; Olson, Rochelle (April 20, 2021). "Derek Chauvin convicted of murder, manslaughter in death of George Floyd". Minneapolis Star Tribune. Archived from the original on April 21, 2021. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  3. ^ Forliti, Amy (April 21, 2021). "EXPLAINER: What next after Chauvin's conviction on 3 counts?". Associated Press. Archived from the original on May 8, 2021. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference nbctaxevasion was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Karnowski, Steve (July 7, 2022). "Chauvin Gets 21 years for Violating Floyd's Civil Rights". NBC Philadelphia. Archived from the original on July 7, 2022. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference judge accepts was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Forliti, Amy; Karnowski, Steve (June 26, 2021). "Chauvin gets 22 1/2 years in prison for George Floyd's death". Associated Press. Archived from the original on June 27, 2021. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
  8. ^ "Ex-officer convicted in George Floyd's killing is moved to new prison months after stabbing". CTV News. August 20, 2024. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference Scher was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference twincities2015-11-13 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ Richmond, Todd (May 29, 2020). "Officer accused in Floyd's death opened fire on 2 people". Associated Press. Archived from the original on July 17, 2023. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
  14. ^ Levenson, Eric; Sanchez, Ray (June 25, 2021). "Derek Chauvin sentenced to 22.5 years in death of George Floyd". CNN. Archived from the original on June 25, 2021. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  15. ^ WCCO-TV (April 27, 2021). "Derek Chauvin's Sentencing Rescheduled For June 25". CBS Minnesota. Archived from the original on May 13, 2021. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  16. ^ "Sentencing Order and Memorandum Opinion" (PDF). Minnesota Courts. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 19, 2023. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  17. ^ Cite error: The named reference :4 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  18. ^ Cite error: The named reference Forliti1215 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  19. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Hutchinson was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  20. ^ Alfonseca, Kiara (July 7, 2022). "Derek Chauvin sentenced to 21 years on federal charges for violating George Floyd's civil rights". ABC News. Archived from the original on July 7, 2022. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  21. ^ Silva, Daniella (July 7, 2022). "Derek Chauvin sentenced to just over 20 years for violating George Floyd's federal civil rights". NBC News. Archived from the original on August 1, 2022. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  22. ^ "Details". coms.doc.state.mn.us. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  23. ^ "Details". patch.com. Archived from the original on April 18, 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
  24. ^ Cite error: The named reference :7 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  25. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference :8 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  26. ^ "Derek Chauvin transferred to Tucson prison". KTVK. August 25, 2022. Archived from the original on August 25, 2022. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
  27. ^ Sisak, Michael (November 24, 2023). "Ex-officer Derek Chauvin, convicted in George Floyd's killing, stabbed in prison, AP source says". Associated Press. Archived from the original on November 25, 2023. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  28. ^ "Ex-officer convicted in George Floyd's killing is moved to new prison months after stabbing". CTVNews. August 20, 2024. Retrieved October 28, 2024.