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A prisoner who allegedly stabbed Derek Chauvin, the police officer found guilty of killing George Floyd, has been charged with attempted murder.
Last month, John Turscak, a former gang member who is currently serving time in prison, was arrested and accused of stabbing a former Minneapolis police officer 22 times at a federal correctional institution in Tuscon, Arizona.
According to Reuters, federal prosecutors stated that Turscak, currently serving a 30-year sentence, would have fatally injured Chauvin if correctional officers had not intervened promptly. Thankfully, Chauvin is expected to recover from the attack.
According to the Associated Press, Turscak admitted to considering attacking Chauvin for a month because he was a well-known prisoner. However, he later denied intending to murder the disgraced officer when questioned by investigators.
According to reports, the incident took place in the law library of the prison at approximately 12:30pm on November 24, the day following Thanksgiving.
Derek Chauvin, aged 47, is currently imprisoned at a federal facility for the death of George Floyd and is serving a 21-year term.
(AP)
According to reports, Turscak, who is 52 years old, is accused of using a makeshift knife to stab Chauvin. Prison employees intervened and administered emergency aid before transporting Chauvin to the hospital for medical attention.
Per prosecutors, Turscak informed FBI agents during an interview following the attack that he targeted Chauvin on Black Friday as a symbolic gesture in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, which gained significant backing after Floyd’s passing.
According to prosecutors, the timing of the assault was linked to the “Black Hand” emblem commonly associated with the Mexican Mafia.
Turscak is facing charges for attempted murder, using a dangerous weapon to commit assault, and causing serious bodily harm through assault.
The potential penalty for the charges of attempted murder and assault with intent to commit murder is a maximum of 20 years in jail. He was originally set to finish serving his current sentence in the year 2026.
, has brought attention to systemic racism and police brutality in the United States.
The widespread support for the Black Lives Matter movement following George Floyd’s death has highlighted issues of systemic racism and police brutality in the United States.
The Associated Press holds the copyright for all materials published in 2021.
On May 25, 2020, George Floyd, a Black man, passed away when Derek Chauvin, a white police officer, knelt on his neck for over nine minutes in public. This occurred outside a convenience store where Floyd was reportedly attempting to use a fake $20 bill.
A video taken by a bystander recorded Floyd’s diminishing pleas of “I can’t breathe.” The death of Floyd sparked demonstrations across the globe, with some turning destructive, and prompted a nationwide reflection on issues of police violence and discrimination.
Chauvin, aged 47, is currently imprisoned for 21 years in a federal facility for the murder. He is attempting to appeal his conviction for violating Floyd’s civil rights, citing new evidence that allegedly proves he was not responsible for Floyd’s death.
In 2021, he was found guilty of second-degree murder and manslaughter. In addition, he admitted to federal charges related to violating Floyd’s civil rights and is currently serving a 20-year prison term.
At the time, Chauvin’s lawyer, Eric Nelson, argued for his client to be kept separate from the general prison population and other inmates due to concerns for his safety.
Nelson stated in court documents last year that Chauvin was primarily placed in solitary confinement in Minnesota for his personal safety.
Source: the-independent.com
