UPDATE (June 11, 2020 at 12:30 a.m.): Thomas Lane was released from custody after posting $750,000 bail.
Original (June 3, 2020 at 8:10 p.m.): Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has charged former Minneapolis Police Department Officers Tou Thao, Thomas Lane and J. Alexander Kueng in the death of George Floyd. The three officers have been charged aiding and betting in the charges of second degree murder and second degree murder. These charges carry a maximum sentence of 40 years and 10 years respectively.
“George Floyd mattered. He was loved. His family was important. His life mattered,” Ellison said.
“But what I do not believe is that one successful prosecution can rectify the hurt and loss that so many people feel,” he stated.
It with a large degree of humility and a great seriousness, I accept for my office the responsibility for leadership on this critical case involving the killing of George Floyd.
We are going to bring to bear all the resources necessary to achieve justice in this case. pic.twitter.com/XXafzFT0Kd
— Attorney General Keith Ellison (@AGEllison) June 1, 2020
“The solution to that pain will be slow and difficult work of constructing justice and fairness in our society,” he continued.
Thao, Lane and Kueng were present on the scene when Derek Chauvin pressed his knee on Floyd’s neck for more than eight minutes as he was rendered unconscious. Another video angle later shows the officers coming closer Floyd’s body during the incident. It is unclear if they also pressed their knees against Floyd’s body.
Thao, Lane and Kueng will be detained and processed before they await the first court date.
