A man poses for photos in front of a fire at an AutoZone store, while protesters hold a rally for George Floyd in Minneapolis. Photo / AP
A man poses for photos in front of a fire at an AutoZone store, while protesters hold a rally for George Floyd in Minneapolis. Photo / AP
Family and friends of father-of-two George Floyd have described his death as "senseless" and "before his time", as outrage grows over the African-American man's treatment at the hands of a white Minneapolis police officer.
Protests have erupted across the Minnesota city and the Minneapolis mayor wants criminal charges laid against officer Derek Chauvin, captured in video of the arrest pinning the cuffed man for nine minutes with his knee.
Police were called after a grocery store employee claimed Mr Floyd had tried to pay using a counterfeit US$20 note.
WHO WAS GEORGE FLOYD?
The 46-year-old lived in St Louis Park, Minneapolis and had been working as a security guard at Conga Latin Bistro before it was temporarily closed due to COVID-19 restrictions. He died on Monday night.
According to the Houston Chronicle, he is survived by two daughters including six-year-old Gianna who lives in Houston with her mother, Roxie Washington.
"People mistake him because he was so big that they thought he was always a fighting person but he was a loving person … and he loved his daughter," Washington said at a prayer vigil in Emancipation Park.
George Floyd. Photo / AP
She said he left the city for Minneapolis around 2018 and worked as a truck driver before his job as a bouncer.
Bistro owner Jovanni Thunstrom, who also leased an address to "Big Floyd", said he last saw him a week ago when he came by to pay his rent.
Lifelong friend Jack Harris said the gifted athlete and hip-hop artist grew up in Houston's Third Ward and the pair met in middle school.
Mr Floyd, who graduated in 1993, was charged in 2007 with armed robbery in a home invasion and in 2009 was sentenced to five years in prison as part of a plea deal, according to court documents.
Mr Harris said Mr Floyd moved to Minneapolis several years ago in the hope of finding work and starting a new life.
"He was looking to start over fresh, a new beginning," Mr Harris told the Associated Press.
A man uses fencing to strike the Minneapolis police 3rd Precinct building during a protest in Minneapolis. Photo / AP
Mr Harris said the way Mr Floyd died – repeatedly telling police "I can't breathe" in the recording – was "senseless".
"He begged for his life, he pleaded for his life," he said.
Former Jack Yates High School classmate Donnell Cooper, who still lives in Texas, told television station KHOU 11 he had been a "great man" and will be a "missing pillar" to the alumni.
"Just to see his life being taken on national TV is just devastating," he said.
He said Mr Floyd was a "gentle giant" at six feet and six inches and played on the state champion football team.
"Quiet personality but a beautiful spirit," Mr Cooper said.
The police report regarding the alleged "forgery" stated Mr Floyd was asked to get out of his car before he "physically resisted officers".
"Officers were able to get the suspect into handcuffs and noted he appeared to be suffering medical distress," it states.
"Officers called for an ambulance. He was transported to Hennepin County Medical Centre by ambulance where he died a short time later."
But in an incident report, the fire department said an off-duty firefighter witnessed the "end of the struggle" and saw Floyd "go from struggling to unresponsive on the ground while handcuffed and subdued" by police.
It states medics then worked on an "unresponsive, pulseless male" and "delivered one shock by their monitor".
"But I believe justice will be served, I have enough faith to stand on it."
Family lawyer Benjamin Crump said it was "a nonviolent crime met with this kind of violent, lethal, excessive force" and the officer had knelt on Floyd's neck for nine minutes.
"You hear the people even pleading with him, 'Please, get your knee off his neck, have some humanity, this is a human being'," he said.
"We have to send a message with this case."
Philonise Floyd, who set up a fund for funeral costs, said: "No one took any action to save my brother's life."
I can confirm that: https://t.co/JJOIoyzVzl is the only legitimate @gofundme page to donate directly to the family of the George Floyd. We are aware of other fraudulent campaigns and we working with @gofundme to have them removed. Thank you for standing with the Floyd family. BLC
The Minneapolis Police Department on Wednesday identified the four officers, who have all been fired, as Derek Chauvin, Thomas Lane, Tou Thao and J. Alexander Keung.
Mayor Jacob Frey said the termination of their employment was "the right call" and wants Chauvin to be criminally charged.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehensive is "investigating the circumstances surrounding an incident".
Information is being shared with the FBI which is conducting a separate, federal civil rights investigation at the request of the city's police department.
US President Donald Trump said it was a "very sad day", later adding on Twitter that he has asked for the investigation to be "expedited".
At my request, the FBI and the Department of Justice are already well into an investigation as to the very sad and tragic death in Minnesota of George Floyd....
"We're going to look at it and we're going to get a report tomorrow when we get back. And we're going to get a very full report," Trump said while touring the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on Wednesday.
Luz Maria Gonzalez, who shared chicken wings with Floyd at his work a few months ago, was among thousands of people who gathered on Tuesday night at the scene where he was arrested.
