Former Minneapolis, Minnesota police officer Derek Chauvin, convicted for the murder of George Floyd, was stabbed by another inmate on November 24, 2023, at the Federal Correctional Institution in Tucson, Arizona.
The attack occurred around 12:30 p.m., as confirmed by the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Chauvin was hospitalized following the incident and is reported to be in stable condition.
Attorney General Keith Ellison, the head of the prosecution against Chauvin in Minnesota, upon hearing the news responded that he was sad to learn about Chauvin’s stabbing. He emphasized the need for Chauvin to serve his sentence without fear of retaliation or violence.
Chauvin, 47, was convicted in a high-profile case for the highly publicized May 2020 death of George Floyd and is serving a 22 1/2-year sentence for second-degree murder and a concurrent federal sentence of 21 years for the violation of Floyd’s civil rights.
Before his transfer to federal custody in August 2022, Chauvin was held in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day in Minnesota prisons due to safety concerns. His lawyer had previously advocated for Chauvin to be kept out of the general prison population to prevent such incidents.
The Bureau of Prisons did not identify the attacker or provide details about the nature of the assault. However, they confirmed that the incident was contained, and no staff members were injured. The FBI has been notified and is likely involved in the ongoing investigation of the stabbing.
This incident is the second major security breach at the Tucson federal prison in over a year, following an attempted shooting in November 2022. The medium-security facility has faced challenges related to security issues and staff shortages.
The attack on Chauvin raises concerns about the safety of inmates, especially those with high-profile cases. The Federal Correctional Institution Tucson, known for housing inmates requiring protection, such as informants, sex offenders, and former law enforcement officers, is designed to provide a higher level of security to such individuals. However, the recent incident indicates potential vulnerabilities in the prison system’s ability to protect inmates from harm.
As of now, the motive behind the attack, the identity of the assailant, and the specific nature of Chauvin’s injuries remain unclear. The Bureau of Prisons has temporarily suspended visitation to the facility following the incident.
