2 Ex-Cops Reject Plea Deal In State Trial Over George Floyd's Death

MINNEAPOLIS — Two former Minneapolis police officers charged in George Floyd’s killing moved to reject a pair of plea deals in state court Monday.

Tou Thao and J. Alexander Kueng both face charges of aiding and abetting second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. Their plea deal would have given them each a three-year prison sentence.

"It would be lying for me to accept any plea offer," Thao said in the hearing.

Their trial, which is scheduled to begin in October, is to be the last criminal trial in Floyd's Memorial Day 2020 death.

As of last month, all four former Minneapolis police officers were who involved in the killing of Floyd have been sentenced to varying amounts of federal prison time.

In addition to the end of the federal trials, both Derek Chauvin and Thomas Lane were already convicted in state court.

As of Monday, here is the current amount of prison time each former officer faces:

In July, Tou Thao, 36, was sentenced to 42 months in federal prison. If convicted in state court this fall, his prison sentences would run concurrently.

In July, J. Alexander Kueng, 28, was sentenced to serve 36 months in federal prison. If convicted in state court this fall, his prison sentences would run concurrently.

In July, Thomas Lane, 39, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison. He is still waiting for his other sentence after pleading guilty in state court in May. Those sentences will run concurrently.

In July, Derek Chauvin, 46, was sentenced to 21 years in federal prison. That sentence will run concurrently with the 22 and 1/2 years he was sentenced to after his 2021 state murder conviction in Floyd's death.

What Has Changed Since Floyd's Death?

More than two years ago, on May 25, 2020, Floyd died while gasping for air under the knee of Chauvin.

Floyd's death, seen by millions around the globe thanks to a bystander's viral video from the scene, ignited a movement for police reform and racial justice.

But street violence and vandalism also plagued Minneapolis in the days after Floyd's death.

More than 10,000 public safety officials contributed to the effort to restore peace and safety, including the first full mobilization of the Minnesota National Guard since World War II. However, nearly 1,500 Twin Cities businesses were damaged by vandalism, thefts, and fire.

Estimates of the damage in Minneapolis and St. Paul caused by riots exceeded half a billion dollars.

Two years later, Minnesotans remain divided on how to respond to Floyd's death and what changes need to be made in policing.

Read more: What Has, And Has Not, Changed In MN Since George Floyd's Death

Reporting from the Associated Press was used in this story.