Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer serving time for the murder of George Floyd, was stabbed by another inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution in Tucson, Arizona. The attack occurred on Friday, and Chauvin sustained serious injuries. The incident follows security concerns at the prison, known for lapses and staffing shortages.
The Bureau of Prisons confirmed the assault, stating that employees contained the situation and administered life-saving measures before the unnamed inmate was taken to a hospital. The FBI was notified, and prison visits have been temporarily suspended. Chauvin’s lawyers and the FBI have not commented on the incident.
This marks the second high-profile attack on a federal prisoner in five months, following the stabbing of disgraced sports doctor Larry Nassar. In November 2022, a firearm incident occurred at the Tucson prison, highlighting ongoing security challenges.
Chauvin, 47, serving concurrent federal and state sentences, was transferred to FCI Tucson in August 2022. Concerns for his safety led to his placement away from the general population. Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected Chauvin’s appeal, and he continues to attempt to overturn his federal guilty plea, claiming new evidence.
The stabbing incident adds another layer of complexity to Chauvin’s tumultuous legal journey, which began after Floyd’s death in May 2020, triggering global protests and a reckoning on police brutality and racism. Three other officers involved in Floyd’s death received lesser sentences for their roles.
