Violent protests, fires, looting and anger erupt in Minneapolis after George Floyd's death; New video of the arrest released

MINNEAPOLIS – Grief and anger turned to violence Wednesday night as Minneapolis saw another day of protests following the death of George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man who was pinned down by a white police officer who held his knee to Floyd's neck.

Demonstrators gathered earlier in the day near the local police precinct, and soon video on social media showed people smashing windows, looting a nearby Target and buildings on fire.

It was the second night of tense protests following Floyd's death. The city's mayor and Floyd's family have called for the arrests of the officers involved in his death, and the federal authorities promised Thursday a "robust criminal investigation." 

The four officers were fired shortly after video of the encounter spread on social media showing Floyd struggling and telling the officers he couldn't breathe.

Floyd's death has sparked a national outcry for justice and other cities saw protests Wednesday night.

Here's what we know Thursday:

Thursday morning, Minneapolis still reels

Smoke still billowed from buildings Thursday morning after another night of protests in Minneapolis.

Photos showed buildings burnt, windows smashed, debris thrown about and empty store shelves from overnight looting.

Ben Crump, attorney for Floyd's family, warned any instigators of violence in the Minneapolis protests. "We don't need that. We need people focused on getting justice," he said during an interview on CNN early Thursday.

Police Chief Medaria Arradondo had said Wednesday the "overwhelming majority" of protests had been peaceful but some had disregarded others' safety.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey also called for the city to remain calm in a plea to his residents overnight.

"Please, Minneapolis, we cannot let tragedy beget more tragedy," he tweeted.

Man fatally shot amid violence; police say suspect in custody

Police spokesman John Elder told USA TODAY that the department was investigating a homicide near the area where a reporter from the Star Tribune newspaper tweeted that a looter had been shot and killed by a pawn shop owner.

Police said in a statement that a suspect was in custody early Thursday, but did not confirm any connection to alleged looting. 

Clashes between police, protesters as flames, looting engulf Minneapolis

Photos shared on social media showed massive fires, including a building under construction that went up in flames as the city descended to darkness Wednesday night.

Star Tribune video journalist Mark Vancleave tweeted that neighbors sprayed their homes with garden houses to try to stop the flames from spreading to other structures.

Vancleave also tweeted that protesters lit fireworks toward police. Officers were in riot gear, and the National Guard was called out to the local police precinct, the Star Tribune reported.

At one point, officers fired noise devices and projectiles toward a crowd of dozens gathered outside the Third Precinct. The nonlethal shots were fired after a group of protesters rolled dumpsters onto the street.

The protests continued for hours, with some throwing objects at police and officers spraying water from low-pressure hoses to keep control.

FBI, US Attorney promise 'robust criminal investigation'

In a joint statement Thursday morning, officials at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Minnesota, the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division and the FBI’s Minneapolis Field Office promised to conduct a "robust criminal investigation" into Floyd's death.

The statement said that authorities would investigate whether the officers involved in Floyd's death violated federal law.

"It is a violation of federal law for an individual acting under color of law to willfully deprive another person of any right protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States," said the statement from U.S. Attorney Erica MacDonald and FBI Special Agent in Charge Rainer Drolshagen.

The offices called for witnesses to help in their investigation. Following the FBI and DOJ investigation, the U.S. Attorney's office will decide whether to file federal charges, the statement says.

Minneapolis police previously said the FBI was aiding in its investigation of the incident, and the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office would handle prosecution of state criminal charges.

Floyd's brother: 'They executed my brother'

In an interview with CNN Thursday morning, Philonise Floyd, George Floyd's brother, also called for peaceful protests in Minneapolis.

Philonise Floyd said he wanted to see the officers involved arrested immediately. The four officers were identified Wednesday, but no charges have been filed despite pleas from the Floyd family, Frey and others in the city.

"These officers, they need to be arrested right now. They need to be arrested and held accountable for everything," Floyd told CNN.

Asked whether he had seen the video of the officer holding his knee to his brother's neck, Floyd said, holding back tears: "I watched the video. It was hard but I had to watch the video. As I watched the video, those four officers, they executed my brother."

Ben Crump, an attorney representing the Floyd family, told CNN that the family would be seeking an independent autopsy. The city has not yet released an autopsy report in Floyd's death.

"They offered him no humanity while keeping his knee on his neck. Members of the public were the only ones trying to de-escalate the situation. Not the police," Crump said.

Previous complaints had been filed against officers

Police identified the officers Wednesday as Derek Chauvin, Thomas Lane, Tou Thao and J. Alexander Kueng. Attorney Tom Kelly said he was representing Chauvin, the officer seen with his knee on Floyd's neck.

The service records of the four officers involved in the incident were no longer public, as they were part of the ongoing investigation, Minneapolis police said Wednesday.

According to The Associated Press, Chauvin was one of six officers who fired their weapons in the 2006 death of Wayne Reyes, who police said pointed a sawed-off shotgun at officers after stabbing two people. Chauvin also shot and wounded a man in 2008 in a struggle after Chauvin and his partner responded to a reported domestic assault.

In 2011, Chauvin was one of several officers put on temporary leave after a police shooting in a residential community, according to local news reports.

Thao was sued for excessive use of force in 2017, according to the Star-Tribune.

Several complaints have been filed against both officers, according to Communities United Against Police Brutality, a Twin-Cities based organization. Chauvin received three oral reprimands as well as seven other closed complaints for which he was not disciplined. Thao was not disciplined in five closed complaints. One case remains open.

What happened leading up to the Floyd's death?

On Monday, the Minneapolis Police Department released a statement that said the officers were responding to a report of a forgery in progress just after 8 p.m.

Police discovered a suspect and ordered him to get out of his car. 

"After he got out, he physically resisted officers," MPD said in a statement. "Officers were able to get the suspect into handcuffs and noted he appeared to be suffering medical distress. Officers called for an ambulance. He was transported to Hennepin County Medical Center by ambulance where he died a short time later."

However, the fire department reported that Floyd did not have a pulse in the ambulance and was unresponsive. Paramedics checked Floyd's pulse several times and delivered a shock, according to the incident report.

The video of the incident taken by a bystander shows Chauvin with his knee pressed into Floyd's neck while the man repeatedly says he can't breathe. 

Floyd repeatedly pleads with Chauvin, at one point crying out for his mother and saying "everything hurts." 

New video shows Minneapolis police arrest of George Floyd before death

Source: USA Today, Ryan W. Miller, Jordan Culver, Tyler J. Davis and Grace Hauck, May 28, 2020

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