Minnesota Governor Tim Waltz has declared a state of emergency and sent National Guards following three nights of destructive protests after news of George Floyd's death-and the circumstances that led to it-sparked national outrage. George Floyd, a 46-year-old African American man, died on Monday after law enforcement officers pinned him to the ground. The officer, who was identified as Derek Chauvin, knelt on Floyd's neck despite pleas he couldn't breathe. Footages of the incident captured the victim begging for his life and crying for help, but none of the other 3 officers, who were identified as Tou Thao, J. Alexander Kueng, and Thomas Lane, responded.


Protests

A large crowd of Minneapolis residents protested from Wednesday evening to early Thursday morning following the death of a black victim who died in police custody. Some protesters threw rocks and drew graffitis on police vehicles while others targeted the precinct where the four officers were assigned. Several buildings in a retail area across the station were smoldered in flames following the protests. The police used tear gas and rubber bullets during the protests as demonstrators looted stores and set buildings on fire. In a twitter post, a resident captured affordable housing developments, Wendy's establishment, and an AutoZone franchise burning.

The governor also claimed the activities injured first responders and fellow protestors.

Fatal Shooting

The Minneapolis authorities also began investigating a fatal shooting near a looted pawnshop. According to the state's police department spokesman, John Elder, the police officers found the victim in critical condition on the sidewalk near the Cadillac Pawn and Jewelry Shop. He was brought to the hospital where he died. The spokesman refused to confirm whether the victim was involved in looting the pawnshop or whether the store owner shot the victim. He claimed the investigators are looking into both theories. A suspect was taken into custody, but his identity remains publicly unknown.

Excessive Force Complaints

Officer Chauvin, the police officer who knelt on the victim's neck, had previously been involved in 18 excessive force complaints filed against Minneapolis officers in recent years. In 2005, the Communities United Against Police Brutality claimed the officer was involved in the deaths of three people after a car he was chasing struck them. In 2006, Chauvin was involved in the fatal shooting of a man who allegedly stabbed two individuals before pointing a gun at law enforcement officials.

In 2008, the officer shot a man he claimed reached for an officer's gun during a domestic violence call. In 2011, the Minneapolis police department placed Chauvin and four other officers on a three-day leave after he was involved in the shooting of an indigenous man. They were allowed to return to work after the department deemed they "acted appropriately."

The Minneapolis Office of Police Conduct complaint database had seven other complaints recorded against him. The city's database listed five other complaints filed before September 2012. All of the complaints are labeled closed or non-public.

Tou Thao, another officer involved in the incident, was previously sued in 2014 after a man claimed he and two other officers used excessive force in an arrest. According to the lawsuit, the man, who was accompanying his pregnant girlfriend, was stopped by the officers who punched, kicked, and kneed his face and body. The incident led to broken teeth, bruising, and trauma. The lawsuit was settled out of court for $25,000.

Want to read more?