'We Have Evidence': Charges of Murder, Manslaughter for Police Officer Who Killed George Floyd

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Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman confirmed on Friday afternoon that former police officer Derek Chauvin has been charged with third degree murder and manslaughter in the killing of George Floyd on Monday.

In a press conference from Minneapolis on Friday, Freeman described the charges saying that substantial evidence came together as of today that led the attorney's office to file the charges. He did not specifically name the specific pieces of evidence that were being used. Chauvin was taken into custody just hours before the announcement of charges against him. 

"This case has moved with extraordinary speed," Freeman said. "We have never charged a case in that kind of time frame, and we can only charge a case when we have sufficient admissible evidence to prove a case beyond a reasonable doubt. As of right now, we have that."

Freeman noted that the medical examiner's report, video recordings from civilians, expert analysis, officers' body cameras, and witness statements were all factors in the decision to charge Chauvin. Freeman said that the other three officers involved were not yet being charged but he felt they would probably face charges in the future.