Three other former Minneapolis police officers have been charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder in the George Floyd case that has convulsed American cities across the country.
The three had watched as their partner Derek Chauvin pinned Floyd to the ground and crushed his neck with a knee for more than eight minutes.
Thomas Lane, 37, J. Alexander Kueng, 26, and Tou Thao, 34, face two charges each of aiding and abetting their fellow former officer in connection to Floyd's death, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said on June 3, 2020.
Charges against Chauvin have been upgraded to second-degree murder, which carries the possibility of a longer sentence if convicted.
"I believe the evidence available to us now supports the stronger charge of second-degree murder," Ellison said.
"I strongly believe these developments are in the interest for justice, Mr. Floyd, our community, and the state."
One of the officers was in custody at the time the charges were announced and arrest warrants were issued.
All three were in custody by the late Wednesday afternoon.
Change in charges
According to Minnesota law, third-degree murder carries a sentence of up to 25 years.
It is filed in cases where someone's death was caused "without intent".
Second-degree murder, or a murder that is not premeditated, carries a sentence of up to 40 years.
The latest charges come after Ellison took over the prosecution in Floyd's death,
"George Floyd mattered," Ellison said.
"His life has value, and we will seek justice for him, and for you, and we will find it."
Background
All four officers were fired shortly after the May 25 incident.
But Chauvin was only arrested on Friday, two days after Floyd's death, and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter by local prosecutors.
Two autopsies have found that the compression of Floyd's neck contributed to his death.
An independent autopsy found Floyd died of asphyxiation.
That report said the pressure applied to his neck and back cut off air to his lungs and blood flow to his neck, making him lose consciousness.
The official autopsy by a local medical examiner determined the cause of death to be "cardiopulmonary arrest complicating law enforcement subdual, restraint, and neck compression".
Officers were called after someone reported that a customer had used a counterfeit $20 bill.
Officers pulled Floyd out of his car at gunpoint.
He was then placed in handcuffs.
When officers tried to put him inside a police car, Floyd fell to the ground and told them he was claustrophobic.
Kueng and Lane held Floyd's back and legs as Chauvin put him in a knee chokehold.