George Floyd, man killed in Minneapolis police encounter, had started new life in Minnesota
NEWS
June 01, 2020
By
The Associated Press, Stephanie Toone
The results from a second autopsy will be released for Floyd Monday
Before he died after being pinned for minutes beneath a Minneapolis police officer's knee, George Floyd was suffering the same fate as millions of Americans during the coronavirus pandemic: out of work and looking for a new job.
Floyd moved to Minneapolis from his native Houston several years ago in hopes of finding work and starting a new life, said Christopher Harris, Floyd's lifelong friend. But he lost his job as a bouncer at a restaurant when Minnesota's governor issued a stay-at-home order. On Monday night, an employee at a Minneapolis grocery store called police after Floyd allegedly tried to pass a counterfeit $ 20 bill.
»MORE: HAPPENING TODAY: Second, independent autopsy of George Floyd’s death to be released
In widely circulated cellphone video of the subsequent arrest, Floyd, who was black, can be seen on the ground with his hands cuffed behind his back while Officer Derek Chauvin presses him to the pavement with his knee on Floyd's neck. The video shows Chauvin, who is white, holding Floyd down for minutes as Floyd complains he can't breathe. The video ends with paramedics lifting a limp Floyd onto a stretcher and placing him in an ambulance.
Four officers were fired Tuesday. On Wednesday, Mayor Jacob Frey called for Chauvin to be criminally charged. Three other officers seen in the video, J Alexander Kueng, Thomas K. Lane and Tou Thao, have not faced charges. Police say Floyd was resisting arrest, but Chauvin's lawyer has declined to comment.
Before he died after being pinned for minutes beneath a Minneapolis police officer's knee, George Floyd was suffering the same fate as millions of Americans during the coronavirus pandemic: out of work and looking for a new job.
Floyd moved to Minneapolis from his native Houston several years ago in hopes of finding work and starting a new life, said Christopher Harris, Floyd's lifelong friend. But he lost his job as a bouncer at a restaurant when Minnesota's governor issued a stay-at-home order. On Monday night, an employee at a Minneapolis grocery store called police after Floyd allegedly tried to pass a counterfeit $ 20 bill.
»MORE: HAPPENING TODAY: Second, independent autopsy of George Floyd’s death to be released
In widely circulated cellphone video of the subsequent arrest, Floyd, who was black, can be seen on the ground with his hands cuffed behind his back while Officer Derek Chauvin presses him to the pavement with his knee on Floyd's neck. The video shows Chauvin, who is white, holding Floyd down for minutes as Floyd complains he can't breathe. The video ends with paramedics lifting a limp Floyd onto a stretcher and placing him in an ambulance.
Four officers were fired Tuesday. On Wednesday, Mayor Jacob Frey called for Chauvin to be criminally charged. Three other officers seen in the video, J Alexander Kueng, Thomas K. Lane and Tou Thao, have not faced charges. Police say Floyd was resisting arrest, but Chauvin's lawyer has declined to comment.
An initial autopsy revealed that Floyd’s death was caused by a combination of being restrained, potential intoxicants in his system and underlying health issues, namely heart disease. A second autopsy has been performed and the results will be revealed Monday afternoon, according to attorneys for the family of George Floyd.
»MORE: Atlanta protests: Complete coverage
On Thursday morning, the US Justice Department announced it has made the federal investigation into George Floyd's death a "top priority." President Donald Trump has also weighed in with shock over Floyd's death. After the violence ensued in the city and nationally, the president also made threats that the national guard could get involved early Friday.
"These THUGS are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd, and I won't let that happen," Trump tweeted.
Trump later clarified his comments, noting that looting leads to violence. Still, the protests that ended in violence, looting and fires continued Friday night in places like Oakland, California, and Atlanta, where Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms implored rioters to "Go home." More protests were reportedly planned for Saturday night across the country.
»MORE: Atlanta protests: Complete coverage
On Thursday morning, the US Justice Department announced it has made the federal investigation into George Floyd's death a "top priority." President Donald Trump has also weighed in with shock over Floyd's death. After the violence ensued in the city and nationally, the president also made threats that the national guard could get involved early Friday.
"These THUGS are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd, and I won't let that happen," Trump tweeted.
Trump later clarified his comments, noting that looting leads to violence. Still, the protests that ended in violence, looting and fires continued Friday night in places like Oakland, California, and Atlanta, where Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms implored rioters to "Go home." More protests were reportedly planned for Saturday night across the country.
Floyd was a former student athlete, doting father
Floyd, 46, grew up in Houston's Third Ward, one of the city's predominantly black neighborhoods, where he and Harris met in middle school. At 6 feet, 6 inches, Floyd emerged as a star tight end for Jack Yates High School and played in the 1992 state championship game in the Houston Astrodome. Yates lost to Temple, 38-20.
According to a report by news station KIIIT, Floyd may have played for Texas A&M University-Kingsville in the mid-1990s. Several former Javelinas football players have expressed sorrow over his death and say they knew him during his time at the college.
Donnell Cooper, one of Floyd's former classmates, said he remembered watching Floyd score touchdowns. Floyd towered over everyone and earned the nickname "gentle giant."
"Quiet personality but a beautiful spirit," Cooper said. His death "definitely caught me by surprise. It's just so sad, the world we're living in now."
Floyd was charged in 2007 with armed robbery in a home invasion in Houston and in 2009 was sentenced to five years in prison as part of a plea deal, according to court documents.
Harris, Floyd's childhood friend, said he and some of their mutual friends had moved to Minneapolis in search of jobs about 2014. Harris said he talked Floyd into moving there as well after he got out of prison.
"He was looking to start over fresh, a new beginning," Harris said. "He was happy with the change he was making."
George Floyd with his child, Gianna, who is now 6. Photo: Via Facebook
Floyd landed a job working security at a Salvation Army store in downtown Minneapolis. He later started working two jobs, one driving trucks and another as a bouncer at Conga Latin Bistro, where he was known as "Big Floyd."
"Always cheerful," Jovanni Tunstrom, the bistro's owner, said. “He had a good attitude. He would dance badly to make people laugh. I tried to teach him how to dance because he loved Latin music, but I couldn't because he was too tall for me. He always called me 'Bossman.' I said, 'Floyd, don't call me Bossman. I'm your friend. "
»MORE: Latest from Minneapolis unrest after George Floyd's death
Harris said Floyd was laid off when Minnesota shut down restaurants as part of a stay-at-home order. He said he spoke with Floyd on Sunday night and gave him some information for contacting a temporary jobs agency.
"He was doing whatever it takes to maintain going forward with his life," Harris said, adding he couldn't believe that Floyd would resort to forgery.
Floyd leaves behind a 6-year-old daughter who still lives in Houston with her mother, Roxie Washington, the Houston Chronicle reported. Efforts to reach Washington on Wednesday were unsuccessful.
"The way he died was senseless," Harris said. "He begged for his life. He pleaded for his life. When you try so hard to put faith in this system, a system that you know isn't designed for you, when you constantly seek justice by lawful means and you can't get it, you begin to take the law into your own hands. "
On Thursday, Floyd's brother Philonise Floyd spoke with CNN about his brother's killing and the unrest that has ensued following his death. Philonise, speaking to CNN anchor Alisyn Camerota from Missouri City, Texas, said he wants those who are in pain due to his brother's killing to be peaceful. However, he said he understands the "pain" and "acting out" in the aftermath of George Floyd's death.
They're tired of seeing black men die constantly. I see why people are doing it. I don't want them to lash out, but they have pain, "Philonise Floyd said during the interview." I want everything to be peaceful, but I can't make everybody be peaceful.
"To the police, I want them to get everything right. Start doing your job the right way ... I haven't been seeing it. Black lives matter, too."
Associated Press writers Carrie Antlfinger and Juan Lozano and news researcher Rhonda Shafner contributed to this report.
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