Ex-Rookie Cop Sentenced To 3.5 Years In George Floyd's Death

MINNEAPOLIS — One of the four former Minneapolis police officers who helped restrain George Floyd moments before his death was sentenced Friday to 3 1/2 years in prison.

J. Alexander Kueng — who was working his third day on the police force when Floyd died — faced state charges of aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter. But under the plea deal he agreed to in late October, the count of aiding and abetting murder was dismissed.

The guilty plea came on the first day of jury selection for the trial of Kueng and his former colleague, ex-officer Tou Thao. The two were expected to stand trial together, but now Thao — who has not pleaded guilty — will stand alone in a trial by stipulated evidence.

Former Minneapolis police officers Derek Chauvin, Thomas Lane, Kueng, and Thao have all already been convicted and sentenced in federal court.

Kueng appeared at the state court hearing Friday over a video from a federal prison in Ohio. He declined to make a statement.

Chauvin was convicted of murder in state court in April 2021, and he later pleaded guilty to the federal charges he faced in Floyd's death.

In February, Lane, Kueng, and Thao were all convicted in federal court of violating Floyd's civil rights.

Following that trial, Lane pleaded guilty to the state charges he faced, which were identical to the ones given to Kueng and Thoa. Under Lane's plea deal, the count of aiding and abetting second-degree unintentional murder against him was dismissed.

Thao's state trial will conclude the criminal trials held over Floyd's death.

The death of George Floyd

Just after 8 p.m. on Memorial Day 2020, police responded to the Cup Foods store on 38th Street and Chicago Avenue South in Minneapolis for a report of a "forgery in progress."

Outside the store, police told Floyd he was under arrest.

In a video seen around the world, Floyd is heard telling officers, "I can't breathe," while he is forced down onto the street. He also asks for water.

Bystanders yelled at Chauvin to get off of Floyd, while officers Kueng and Lane assisted Chauvin. Meanwhile, Thao ordered people, including an off-duty EMS worker, to back away from the scene.

Chauvin kept his knee on Floyd's neck even after he went motionless. His knee was on Floyd for a total of 9 minutes and 29 seconds.

All four officers who were at the scene were fired the next day and later criminally charged.

Floyd's death sparked street violence and protests for police reform in Minneapolis and across the United States and the world.

Also read: Here's How The Police Initially Described George Floyd's Death

Reporting from the Associated Press was used in this story