Derek Chauvin Told George Floyd It Takes 'A Lot Of Oxygen To Talk' While Kneeling On His Neck

More than a month after George Floyd was killed in broad daylight, with a video showing then-police officer Derek Chauvin‘s knee on the man’s neck for nearly nine minutes, more disturbing details are coming out about the horrifying incident.

While Chauvin has been fired by the Minneapolis Police Department and charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter, newly released transcripts of bodycam footage reveal how he interacted with Floyd. Despite the victim repeatedly (more than 20 times!!) telling officers he couldn’t breathe and that they were going to kill him, Chauvin told Floyd “it takes a heck of a lot of oxygen” to talk.

The transcripts, which were filed in Hennepin County District Court, also detail Floyd pleading with the four officers, including Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng, and Tou Thao, even saying at one point he recently recovered from coronavirus. Transcription from Lane’s bodycam footage attributes Chauvin as saying:

“Then stop talking, stop yelling, it takes a heck of a lot of oxygen to talk.”

The transcript from Kueng’s states Chauvin told Floyd:

“Takes a heck of a lot of oxygen to say that.”

After eight minutes and 46 minutes of Derek’s knee driving into George’s neck, the father of five died.

All four officers have been fired and charged, with Lane, Kueng, and Thao facing aiding and abetting second-degree unintentional murder and second-degree manslaughter. Those three have been released on bond. Lane has also filed a motion in court to dismiss the charges against him, hoping to use the bodycam footage transcription to his benefit.

Meanwhile, the actual footage itself has not been released, though many watched the tragic interaction when the video of Floyd’s death went viral.

What we didn’t see on camera was any indication George and Derek knew each other, even though it’s been reported the two worked night security at the same Minneapolis nightclub. One man who was employed beside them alleged the disgraced cop was “well acquainted” with Floyd, spilling how they even “bumped heads” over Chauvin’s “aggressive” handling of patrons at the establishment.

Clearly an investigation will uncover more the public doesn’t know as protests continue around the nation. Justice needs to be served for Floyd, his family, and the countless other cases where unarmed Black people have been killed by police without consequence. Thoughts, Perezcious readers?? Sound off in the comments (below).

[Image via Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office]