George Floyd’s family says Minneapolis police officers should face murder charges
This browser does not support the video element.
By Theresa Seiger, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
MINNEAPOLIS — The family of a black man who died after video showed a Minneapolis police officer kneeling on his neck as he struggled to breathe and begged for his life is demanding that the officers involved in his death face murder charges.
Minneapolis Police remove barricades set by protesters during a demonstration over the killing of George Floyd by a policeman outside the Third Police Precinct on May 27, 2020, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (KEREM YUCEL/AFP via Getty Images)
Minneapolis A protester wearing a face mask holds up his hands during a demonstration over the killing of George Floyd by a policeman outside the Third Police Precinct on May 27, 2020, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (KEREM YUCEL/AFP via Getty Images)
Minneapolis A demonstrator holding a sign jumps up and down so police officers behind the front lines could see it, outside the Oakdale, Minn,, home of fired Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin on Wednesday evening, May 27, 2020. (Jeff Wheeler/Star Tribune via AP)
Minneapolis Protesters are trapped between police and other protesters who gathered in a call for justice for George Floyd following his death, outside the 3rd Police Precinct on May 27, 2020, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (KEREM YUCEL/AFP via Getty Images)
Minneapolis A police officer aims a projectile weapon at protesters who gathered in a call for justice for George Floyd following his death, outside the 3rd Police Precinct on May 27, 2020, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (KEREM YUCEL/AFP via Getty Images)
Minneapolis A man poses for a photo in the parking lot of an AutoZone store in flames, while protesters hold a rally for George Floyd in Minneapolis on Wednesday, May 27, 2020. (Carlos Gonzalez/Star Tribune via AP)
Minneapolis Demonstrators chant at police officers outside the Minneapolis police 3rd Precinct in Minneapolis on Wednesday afternoon, May 27, 2020. (Jeff Wheeler/Star Tribune via AP)
Minneapolis Protesters damage properties at the Minneapolis 3rd Police Precinct in Minneapolis on Wednesday, May 27, 2020. (Carlos Gonzalez/Star Tribune via AP)
Minneapolis Protesters clash with police during a demonstration over the killing of George Floyd by a policeman outside the Third Police Precinct on May 27, 2020, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (KEREM YUCEL/AFP via Getty Images)
Minneapolis Three police officers stand on the roof of the 3rd Precinct Police Precinct, one holding a projectile weapon, as protesters clash with the police during demonstrations against the death of George Floyd outside on May 27, 2020, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (KEREM YUCEL/AFP via Getty Images)
Minneapolis An injured woman is carried by other protesters during clashes with police at a demonstration over the killing of George Floyd by a policeman outside the Third Police Precinct on May 27, 2020, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (KEREM YUCEL/AFP via Getty Images)
Minneapolis Protesters demonstrate in a call for justice for George Floyd following his death, outside the 3rd Police Precinct on May 27, 2020, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (KEREM YUCEL/AFP via Getty Images)
Minneapolis Protesters clash with police during a demonstration over the killing of George Floyd by a policeman outside the Third Police Precinct on May 27, 2020, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (KEREM YUCEL/AFP via Getty Images)
Minneapolis Protesters damage properties at the Minneapolis 3rd Police Precinct in Minneapolis on Wednesday, May 27, 2020. (Carlos Gonzalez/Star Tribune via AP)
Minneapolis A man poses for photos in front of a fire at an AutoZone store, while protesters hold a rally for George Floyd in Minneapolis on Wednesday, May 27, 2020. (Carlos Gonzalez/Star Tribune via AP)
Los Angeles Demonstrators block traffic during a protest Wednesday, May 27, 2020, in Los Angeles over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody earlier in the week. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Los Angeles Demonstrators gather during a protest Wednesday, May 27, 2020, in Los Angeles over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody earlier in the week. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Los Angeles A demonstrator, right, shouts at police officers during a protest Wednesday, May 27, 2020, in Los Angeles over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody earlier in the week. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Los Angeles A demonstrator raises his fist during a protest of the death of George Floyd, a black man who was in police custody in Minneapolis, in downtown Los Angeles, Wednesday, May 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Los Angeles Demonstrators march during a protest of the death of George Floyd, a black man who was in police custody in Minneapolis, in downtown Los Angeles, Wednesday, May 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Los Angeles Demonstrators shut down the Hollywood Freeway during a protest for George Floyd in downtown Los Angeles Wednesday, May 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Los Angeles Demonstrators holds signs and shout in Los Angeles on Wednesday, May 27, 2020, during a protest about the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis earlier in the week. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Los Angeles Demonstrators block a highway patrol car during a protest for George Floyd in downtown Los Angeles Wednesday, May 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Los Angeles Kika Villareal, 27, and her daughter Aubrie, both of Los Angeles, along with fellow Black Lives Matters protesters gather in DTLA to protest the killing of George Floyd in Minnesota by police Wednesday, May 27, 2020, in Los Angeles. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Los Angeles Harina Yacob, 26, of Los Angeles, along with fellow Black Lives Matters protesters gather in DTLA to protest the killing of George Floyd in Minnesota by police Wednesday, May 27, 2020, in Los Angeles. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Memphis Officers form a line in front of a police precinct Wednesday, May 27, 2020, in Memphis, Tenn., during a protest over the death of George Floyd in police custody earlier in the week in in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Adrian Sainz)
Memphis Protesters in Memphis, Tenn., gather outside a police precinct Wednesday, May 27, 2020, to voice their anger of the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Adrian Sainz)
George Floyd death sparks more protests Debris and carts are strewn in the Target parking lot near the Minneapolis Police Third Precinct, Thursday, May 28, 2020, following a night of rioting and looting as protests continue over the arrest of George Floyd who died in police custody. Floyd died after being restrained by Minneapolis police officers on Memorial Day. A video taken by a bystander shows a Minneapolis police officer with his knee on the neck of a man in custody who later died. The four officers involved have been fired.(AP Photo/Jim Mone) (Jim Mone/AP)
George Floyd death sparks more protests NEW YORK, NY - MAY 28: Protesters clash with police during a rally against the death of Minneapolis, Minnesota man George Floyd at the hands of police on May 28, 2020 in Union Square in New York City. Floyd's death was captured in video that went viral of the incident. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz called in the National Guard today as looting broke out in St. Paul. (Photo by Stephanie Keith/Getty Images) (Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)
George Floyd death sparks more protests NEW YORK, NY - MAY 28: Protesters clash with police during a rally against the death of Minneapolis, Minnesota man George Floyd at the hands of police on May 28, 2020 in Union Square in New York City. Floyd's death was captured in video that went viral of the incident. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz called in the National Guard today as looting broke out in St. Paul. (Photo by Stephanie Keith/Getty Images) (Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)
George Floyd death sparks more protests NEW YORK, NY - MAY 28: Protesters clash with police during a rally against the death of Minneapolis, Minnesota man George Floyd at the hands of police on May 28, 2020 in Union Square in New York City. Floyd's death was captured in video that went viral of the incident. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz called in the National Guard today as looting broke out in St. Paul. (Photo by Stephanie Keith/Getty Images) (Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)
George Floyd death sparks more protests A protester holds her sign at the Hennepin County Government Center, Thursday, May 28, 2020, as protests continue over the death of George Floyd, who died in police custody Monday night in Minneapolis after video shared online by a bystander showed a white officer kneeling on his neck during his arrest as he pleaded that he couldn't breathe. (AP Photo/Jim Mone) (Jim Mone/AP)
George Floyd death sparks more protests A protester holds a photo of George Floyd during a protest at the Hennepin County Government Center, Thursday, May 28, 2020, as protests continue over the death of George Floyd, who died in police custody Monday night in Minneapolis after video shared online by a bystander showed a white officer kneeling on his neck during his arrest as he pleaded that he couldn't breathe. (AP Photo/Jim Mone) (Jim Mone/AP)
George Floyd death sparks more protests NEW YORK, NY - MAY 28: Protesters clash with police during a rally against the death of Minneapolis, Minnesota man George Floyd at the hands of police on May 28, 2020 in Union Square in New York City. Floyd's death was captured in video that went viral of the incident. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz called in the National Guard today as looting broke out in St. Paul. (Photo by Stephanie Keith/Getty Images) (Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)
George Floyd death sparks more protests A man carries items past a burned out Auto Zone store near the Minneapolis Police Third Precinct Thursday, May 28, 2020, after a night of rioting and looting as protests continue over the death of George Floyd, who was seen on video gasping for breath during an arrest in which an officer kneeled on his neck. (AP Photo/Jim Mone) (Jim Mone/AP)
George Floyd death sparks more protests NEW YORK, NY - MAY 28: A protesters is detained by police during a rally against the death of Minneapolis, Minnesota man George Floyd at the hands of police on May 28, 2020 in Union Square in New York City. Floyd's death was captured in video that went viral of the incident. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz called in the National Guard today as looting broke out in St. Paul. (Photo by Stephanie Keith/Getty Images) (Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)
George Floyd death sparks more protests Firefighters stand as an aerial hose sends water on hot spots of a building destroyed near the Minneapolis Police Third Precinct Thursday, May 28, 2020, in Minneapolis, after a night of rioting and looting as protests continue over the death of George Floyd, who was seen on video gasping for breath during an arrest in which an officer kneeled on his neck. (AP Photo/Jim Mone) (Jim Mone/AP)
George Floyd death sparks more protests NEW YORK, NY - MAY 28: A protesters is detained by police during a rally against the death of Minneapolis, Minnesota man George Floyd at the hands of police on May 28, 2020 in Union Square in New York City. Floyd's death was captured in video that went viral of the incident. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz called in the National Guard today as looting broke out in St. Paul. (Photo by Stephanie Keith/Getty Images) (Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)
George Floyd, 46, died Monday after officers detained him for questioning in connection with a possible forgery in progress, authorities said. On Tuesday, police said four officers involved in the man’s death had been fired.
“I would like for those officers to be charged with murder because that’s exactly what they did,” Bridgett Floyd said Wednesday during an appearance on NBC’s “Today” show. “They murdered my brother. He was crying for help.”
In a 10-minute video posted on social media and captured by a passerby, bystanders can be heard pleading with police to let Floyd up as he struggles to breathe.
"Bro, he's not even (expletive) moving," a bystander can be heard saying in the video. "Get off his neck!"
The video showed Floyd was unconscious by the time an ambulance arrived to take him to a hospital.
“The police killed him, bro, right in front of everybody,” said the woman who shot the video, Darnella Frazier, according to The Washington Post. “He was crying, telling them like, ‘I can’t breathe,’ and everything. … They killed this man.”
Attorney Ben Crump, who is representing Floyd’s family, said videos showed an officer kept his knee on Floyd’s neck for nine minutes. He likened the 46-year-old’s death to that of Eric Garner, who died July 17, 2014, after being placed in a chokehold by police in New York City. Video of that situation showed Garner pleading with police for air as officers ignored him.
"It's a 'I can't breathe' again case in 2020, and it's worse than Eric Garner in many ways because you hear the people even pleading with them, 'Please get your knee off his neck. Have some humanity. This is a human being,'" Crump said.
Mayor Jacob Frey said Wednesday that he also believes the officers involved in Floyd's death should face murder charges. He noted that the technique used by the officer who subdued Floyd was not approved by the police department and should not have been used.
"We are not talking about a split-second decision that was made incorrectly," Frey said.
"There's somewhere around 300 seconds in those five minutes, every one of which the officer could have turned back. Every second of which he could have removed his knee from George Floyd's neck. Every one of which he could have listened to community around him, clearly saying that he needed to stop. Every one of which -- you heard George Floyd himself articulating the pain he was feeling and inability to breathe."
Authorities, including the FBI, are investigating the death.
Minneapolis protests People face off with police near the Minneapolis 3rd Police Precinct on Tuesday, May 26, 2020. (Richard Tsong-Taatarii/Star Tribune via Getty Images)
Minneapolis protests People gather during a rally in Minneapolis on Tuesday, May 26, 2020. (Carlos Gonzalez/Star Tribune via Getty Images)
Minneapolis protests Shawanda Hill, the girlfriend of George Floyd, reacts near the spot where he died while in custody of the Minneapolis Police, on May 26, 2020, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (KEREM YUCEL/AFP via Getty Images)
Minneapolis protests People hold up their fists while protesting near the spot where George Floyd died in Minneapolis police custody, on May 26, 2020, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (KEREM YUCEL/AFP via Getty Images)
Minneapolis protests Tear gas is fired as protesters clash with police while demonstrating against the death of George Floyd outside the 3rd Precinct Police Precinct on May 26, 2020, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
Minneapolis protests Police clash with protesters at the Minneapolis 3rd Police Precinct on Tuesday, May 26, 2020. (Carlos Gonzalez/Star Tribune via Getty Images)
Minneapolis protests Police dressed in tactical gear attempt to disperse crowds gathered to protest the death of George Floyd outside the 3rd Precinct Police Station on May 26, 2020, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
Minneapolis protests Protesters demonstrate against the death of George Floyd outside the 3rd Precinct Police Precinct on May 26, 2020, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
Minneapolis protests People hold signs and protest after the death of George Floyd on May 26, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (KEREM YUCEL/AFP via Getty Images)
Minneapolis protests People march during a rally in Minneapolis on Tuesday, May 26, 2020. (Richard Tsong-Taatarii/Star Tribune via Getty Images)
Minneapolis protests People march during a rally in Minneapolis on Tuesday, May 26, 2020. (Richard Tsong-Taatarii/Star Tribune via Getty Images)
Minneapolis protests Protesters march through the streets while demonstrating against the death of George Floyd on May 26, 2020, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
Minneapolis protests Mourners gather around a makeshift memorial, Tuesday, May 26, 2020 in Minneapolis, near where a black man was taken into police custody and later died. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Minneapolis protests Protesters march through the streets while demonstrating against the death of George Floyd on May 26, 2020, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
Minneapolis protests Protesters march on Hiawatha Avenue while decrying the killing of George Floyd on May 26, 2020, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
Minneapolis protests A protester holds a sign while demonstrating against the death of George Floyd outside the 3rd Precinct Police Precinct on May 26, 2020, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
Minneapolis protests Police dressed in tactical gear attempt to disperse crowds gathered to protest the death of George Floyd outside the 3rd Precinct Police Station on May 26, 2020, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
Minneapolis protests Protesters march on Hiawatha Avenue while decrying the killing of George Floyd on May 26, 2020, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
Minneapolis protests Protesters gather Tuesday, May 26, 2020, near the site where a man died in police custody Monday night in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
US-CRIME-RACE A man holds a sign while protesting near the area where a Minneapolis Police Department officer allegedly killed George Floyd, on May 26, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (KEREM YUCEL/AFP via Getty Images)