George Floyd Case, Bio, Wiki, Age, Death, Family, Derek Chauvin, Video

George Floyd Biography and Wiki

George Floyd was a 46-year-old African-American man who died on May 25, 2020, in Minneapolis, MN in police custody. The incident captured global attention and backlash after it was recorded in a now-viral video by a bystander. In the video, Floyd was seen handcuffed and pinned to the ground with his face pressed down on the pavement by an officer’s knee which is pressed hard at the back of his neck.

Floyd could be heard pleading with the officer to ease off his knee as he “Can’t breathe”. The video was recorded by one of the witnesses at the scene of the incident. One police officer could be seen kneeling hard on the back of Floyd’s neck as Floyd pleads to be let to breathe. The by-standers also trying to have the officer get the victim up and into the patrol car.

The officers (four – all white) involved in the incident have since been terminated. Many other people, including Floyd’s family, called for the arrest and prosecution of the officers. Floyd was termed as a gentle giant by his family. His death reignited the racism debate in the United States.

George Floyd Death, Derek Chauvin

Floyd died on May 25, 2020, at Hennepin County Medical Center at around 9.25 pm. White officers Derek Chauvin, Thomas Lane, Tou Thao, and J. Alexander Kueng were out to arrest Floyd on suspicion of a “Forgery in Progress”. However, the arrest led to Floyd’s death when Derek Chauvin exerted his body weight on Floyd’s neck using his right knee in a video recorded by eyewitnesses.

George Floyd's Photo — **Floyd’s Photo (Courtesy of Ben Crump Law Firm)**

Floyd was seen wailing the phrase I Can’t Breathe several times with his face planted on the pavement with hands apparently cuffed behind his back. Derek Chauvin was seen kneeling on his neck. Observers standing nearby were heard telling officers that Floyd’s nose was bleeding and that he was dying. The officer and his colleagues showed little reaction as the man gradually went silent and lost consciousness.

In the video, the police officer’s knee remained on Floyd for at least seven minutes, even as the man was pleading for help. “My stomach hurts. My neck hurts. Everything hurts.” Floyd pleads. At one point the Floyd said, “Give me some water or something. Please. Please.”

Floyd pleaded with the officer to let go while groaning in pain. One female bystander pointed out to the officers that Floyd’s nose was bleeding and prompted them to check his pulse. Officer Chauvin was unmoved by these appeals and appeared to be indifferent all through. After about four or so minutes, Floyd seemed to slump and fell silent. He was pronounced dead at Hennepin County Medical Center.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey was quick to condemn the incident. He called the man’s death “simply awful,” and “wrong at every level” at the press conference on May 26, 2020. Part of his statement read:

“For the better part of the night I’ve been trying to find the words to describe what happened and all I keep coming back to is that he should not have died.”

The FBI is investigating Floyd’s death, along with the Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman, and Erica McDonald, the United States Attorney for the District of Minnesota. His family hired renowned civil rights lawyer Ben Crump to pursue justice for Floyd.

George Floyd Cause of Death, Heart Attack

According to Dr. Andrew Baker, the Medical Examiner’s report, Floyd died due to a homicide experienced while suffering from a heart attack while being restrained. The report also showed that Floyd had tested positive for coronavirus on April 3, 2020, and was still positive as at the time of death.

George Floyd Height

According to his photos, Floyd appears to have been a man of above-average stature. His height could have been around 6 ft 2 in. However, his actual height is still not available. His family termed him a gentle giant.

I Can’t Breathe Protests for George Floyd’s Death

Floyd’s death attracted crowds of protesters on May 27, 2020, in downtown Minneapolis at the scene where Floyd was killed. Protesters clashed with police where they lobbed teargas canisters to disperse the crowds. They destroyed parts of a building and a police squad car.

Floyd’s final words before he appeared to lose consciousness were a plea for help: “I can’t breathe.” The protests are named after his last words. More protests were scheduled to take place in his native Houston. Floyd’s death brought memories of another video recorded in New York City, where Eric Garner, an unarmed black man died as a result of an officer’s chokehold in 2014.

Who recorded the George Floyd Video

The viral video that captured the May 25, 2020 arrest that led to Floyd’s death was recorded by Darnella Frazier. She was a bystander at the time of the incident. Another witness can be heard in the video’s audio lamenting to the officer:

“That’s bulls**t, Bro. You’re stopping his breathing right there, Bro. Get him off the ground, Bro. You’re being a bum right now.”

“… enjoying that. He’s a bum, Bro. You could have put him in the car by now. He’s not resisting arrest or nothing. You’re enjoying it. Look at you. Your body language — you bum. You know that’s bogus right now.”

George Floyd Video

There are various versions of the video captured during the arrest of George Floyd that led to his death. The mobile phone video was recorded by Darnella Frazier, a bystander while another is from CCTV footage.

George Floyd Wife and Family

Floyd was raised in Third Ward, Houston, a black neighborhood south of downtown. He was raised along with his siblings and two cousins. Reports indicate that Floyd was married and had kids, though details on this aspect of his life are scanty. There is also no information pertaining to his parents.