Judge finds ex-officer Thao guilty of aiding manslaughter in George Floyd’s death

(KSTP) – A Hennepin County court found Former Minneapolis police officer Tou Thao guilty of aiding in George Floyd’s death.

The verdict comes almost three full years after Floyd’s killing on May 25, 2020.

Thao is the last of the four defendants in Floyd’s murder to be convicted. Former officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty of 2^nd-degree unintentional murder and 2^nd-degree manslaughter by a Hennepin County court on April 20, 2021 and was sentenced to 270 months in prison. The Minnesota Court of Appeals upheld Chauvin’s conviction on April 17, 2023. Former officer Thomas Lane pled guilty to 2^nd-degree manslaughter on May 18, 2022 and was sentenced to 36 months in prison. Former officer J. Alexander Kueng pled guilty to 2^nd-degree manslaughter on October 24, 2022 and was sentenced to 42 months in prison.  

Thao decided to forgo a jury trial and just have Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill decide his fate. Cahill returned his decision Monday, finding Thao guilty of aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter.

Thao is now expected to get a sentence in the range of 41-57 months in prison. His sentencing date hasn’t yet been set.

Currently, he’s serving his federal sentence and isn’t expected to be released until August 2025, meaning he could serve his state sentence while he’s in federal prison.

Thao testified in his federal trial that he was on crowd control when Floyd was killed and never actually touched Floyd. He added of his fellow former officers, “I was assuming they were taking care of him.”

However, prosecutors argued that Thao, who had almost nine years of experience, should’ve known from his training that Floyd needed medical help.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, who has been the lead prosecutor of George Floyd’s murder, issued the following statement:

The conviction of Tou Thao is historic and the right outcome. It brings one more measure of accountability in the tragic death of George Floyd. Accountability is not justice, but it is a step on the road to justice. 

While we have now reached the end of the prosecution of Floyd’s murder, it is not behind us. There is much more that prosecutors, law-enforcement leaders, rank-and-file officers, elected officials, and community can do to bring about true justice in law enforcement and true trust and safety in all communities. To begin with, Congress must act: almost three years after his death, Congress has still not passed the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. That must change, now.

Many people deserve our thanks: the world-class team that has seen this historic prosecution from beginning to end; the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office for their unflagging partnership; the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for diligently leaving no stone unturned in the investigation; and the United States Attorney’s Office for their purposeful prosecution of the civil-rights case. I also want to thank community in Minnesota and around the world for their clear, unrelenting focus on accountability and justice.

Above all, my thoughts today are with George Floyd, his young daughter, and his family. Floyd’s loved ones can never have him back, yet they have turned their private tragedy into a public movement for accountability, healing, and justice that keeps Floyd’s legacy vibrant and alive to this day and beyond. 

Minnesota Attorney General, Keith Ellison

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty issued the following statement: 

Nearly three years ago, the images of a police officer murdering George Floyd shocked the world, shattered our community, and devastated those who knew and loved him. Today, the person who aided in the murder by preventing community members from helping Mr. Floyd has been found guilty and held accountable. I hope today’s verdict is another step on the path toward healing for George Floyd’s family. 

I am grateful to the courageous community members whose cooperation was essential to the successful prosecution of the four defendants. I also give my thanks to the Attorney General and his team, the members of the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office who played a role, and the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for their investigation. 

Those of us in leadership positions in the legal system have much work to do when it comes to building trust and safety in our communities. We must all commit to doing our part to make our neighborhoods safe for everyone. 

Hennepin County Attorney, Mary Moriarty