Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, convicted of murdering George Floyd, was seriously injured in a stabbing at the Federal Correctional Institution in Tucson, Arizona, on Friday, according to a person familiar with the matter. Chauvin was attacked by another inmate, and the assault occurred at around 12:30 p.m. local time. The Bureau of Prisons confirmed the assault, stating that responding employees contained the incident and performed “life-saving measures.” The inmate responsible for the attack was transported to a hospital for further treatment and evaluation.
Chauvin’s Prison History and Security Concerns
Derek Chauvin, 47, was transferred to FCI Tucson from a maximum-security Minnesota state prison in August 2022 to serve concurrent federal and state sentences. Chauvin is serving a 21-year federal sentence for violating George Floyd’s civil rights and a 22½-year state sentence for second-degree murder. His lawyer had advocated for keeping him out of the general population, expressing concerns about potential threats. In Minnesota, Chauvin had been primarily kept in solitary confinement for his own protection.
Ongoing Legal Battles
Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected Chauvin’s appeal of his murder conviction. Separately, he is attempting to overturn his federal guilty plea, arguing that new evidence shows he did not cause Floyd’s death. Chauvin’s stabbing follows the attack on disgraced sports doctor Larry Nassar in July at a federal penitentiary in Florida.
Bureau of Prisons Under Scrutiny
Chauvin’s stabbing adds to the scrutiny facing the federal Bureau of Prisons, which has grappled with issues like security lapses, staffing shortages, and high-profile incidents. An ongoing AP investigation has revealed flaws within the Bureau of Prisons, including sexual abuse by staff, escapes, violence, deaths, and severe staffing shortages.
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