John Turscak, a federal inmate, was charged with attempted murder for stabbing Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted in the George Floyd case. Turscak reportedly attacked Chauvin in the law library, inflicting 22 stab wounds with an improvised knife. Quick response from correctional officers prevented what Turscak allegedly claimed would have been a fatal assault.
Who is John Turscak?
John Turscak, 52, facing charges of attempted murder, revealed to FBI agents that he had contemplated assaulting Chauvin for about a month due to Chauvin’s high-profile inmate status. While denying an intent to kill, Turscak mentioned that the attack on Black Friday was symbolically linked to the Black Lives Matter movement and the “Black Hand” symbol associated with the Mexican Mafia gang.
As of now, court records do not list an attorney for Turscak, who has represented himself in various court matters. He remains in custody following the attempted murder incident.
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Chauvin’s Background
Derek Chauvin, 47, was serving concurrent federal and state sentences at FCI Tucson. Transferred from a maximum-security Minnesota state prison in August 2022, Chauvin faced a 21-year federal sentence for violating George Floyd’s civil rights and a 22½-year state sentence for second-degree murder.
Chauvin’s lawyer, Eric Nelson, had previously advocated for keeping him out of general population due to concerns about his safety. In Minnesota, Chauvin had been largely kept in solitary confinement for his protection, as noted in court papers from the previous year.
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George Floyd Case
George Floyd, a Black man, tragically died on May 25, 2020, after Derek Chauvin, a white police officer, pressed his knee on Floyd’s neck for 9½ minutes. Floyd’s death sparked global protests against police brutality and racism, prompting a significant national reckoning.