News Roundup

The nation has been gripped by protests this week following the death of George Floyd while he was in police custody in Minneapolis.  As the News Roundup noted last week, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin pinned Floyd’s neck to the ground with his knee for nearly nine minutes while Floyd, who was handcuffed, pleaded that he could not breathe and bystanders repeatedly told Chauvin and other officers at the scene that Floyd appeared to be in great distress.  A memorial service for Floyd, who had family in North Carolina and was born in Fayetteville, is scheduled to be held on Saturday in Raeford, where his sister lives.  Keep reading for more on this story and other news. Officers Charged.  Last Friday, Chauvin was arrested on Minnesota state charges of third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.  On Wednesday, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, who now is leading prosecutions arising from Floyd’s death, added a second-degree murder charge against Chauvin that is based on a felony murder theory, with an underlying felony of third-degree assault. Three other former Minneapolis officers who were at the scene of Floyd’s death also were charged this week.  As the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports, J Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane, and Tou Thao each have been charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter.  Kueng and Lane were the first officers to respond to the scene where Floyd was alleged to have used a forged $20 bill at a convenience store.  The pair helped [...]