Former Minneapolis Police Officer Sentenced To 3.5 Years

J. Alexander Kueng, a former Minneapolis officer, kneed on George Floyd’s shoulder in the May 2020 killing that caused international outrage. Friday, he was sentenced to 3 1/2 years for manslaughter.

Kueng is currently serving a federal sentence for violating Floyd’s civil rights. He appears at the Hennepin County Courthouse in Minnesota via video link from an Ohio low security federal prison.

Matthew Frank (Assistant Attorney General) described Floyd on Friday as a “crime victim”. He said that Kueng had “sworn an Oath of Life to Protect Life” when he was a police officer and “didn’t follow” that oath up until Floyd’s death.

Kueng declined the opportunity to speak at this hearing.

Kueng plead guilty to second-degree manslaughter assisting and abetting, on Oct. 23.

Floyd died May 25, 2020. Derek Chauvin, a former officer, knelt down on Floyd’s neck for nine minutes while Floyd claimed he couldn’t breathe. Floyd finally went limp. The incident was captured on video by a witness and sparked protests across the globe.

Kueng kneeled on Floyd’s back during the restraint. Officer Thomas Lane held Floyd’s legs and Tou Thao, another officer at the time, prevented other officers from interfering. All of these officers were fired and are facing federal and state charges.

Kueng admitted to Floyd being held in his torso as part of a plea agreement. Kueng also stated that Floyd was restrained in his torso, which he had learned from training and experience. This placed Floyd at significant risk.

Chauvin, White, was convicted of state murder and manslaughter last year and is currently serving 22 1/2 Years in state prison. He was sentenced for 21 years. He is currently in Federal Correctional Institution, Tucson.

Kueng and Lane were both convicted of federal charges in February. Thao and Kueng were also convicted of failing to prevent Chauvin’s assassination.

Fox9 reports that Kueng’s sentencing hearing was set to begin at 8:30 a.m. on Friday morning.