Thomas Lane Pleads Guilty In Death Of George Floyd, 1 Count Dismissed

MINNEAPOLIS — One of the four former Minneapolis police officers accused in the death of George Floyd pleaded guilty Wednesday in state court to aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter.

Under Thomas Lane's plea deal, a count of aiding and abetting second-degree unintentional murder against him was dismissed.

State prosecutors are asking for a three-year sentence for Lane, which could be served in federal prison.

In February, Lane, J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao were all convicted in federal court of violating Floyd's civil rights. They have not yet been sentenced in that trial.

Kueng and Thao have not pleaded guilty to their state charges, which are identical to the ones that Lane faced.

Derek Chauvin was convicted of murder in Floyd's death by a state jury in April 2021 and was sentenced to 22.5 years.

Later that year, Chauvin pleaded guilty to the federal civil rights charges against him. Under the federal plea agreement, Chauvin faces a sentence between 20 and 25 years in prison. He has not yet been sentenced.

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.