Derek Chauvin Stabbed 22 Times in Arizona Prison Attack
Derek Chauvin, the former cop convicted of murdering George Floyd, was viciously stabbed 22 times by a fellow inmate at a medium-security prison in Tucson, Arizona. The attack happened in the prison’s law library, a facility already riddled with security problems and staff shortages.
Inmate Uses “Black Friday” to Send Message
The US Bureau of Prisons confirmed Chauvin was assaulted around 12:30 pm last Friday. John Turscak, 52, used a homemade knife to carry out the stabbing. Prosecutors revealed Turscak told officers he would have killed Chauvin if guards hadn’t intervened quickly.
Turscak said he chose Black Friday for the attack as a nod to Black Lives Matter and the “Black Hand” symbol tied to the Mexican Mafia.
Chauvin’s Lawyer Warned of Danger
Chauvin, 47, is serving a 21-year federal sentence for violating Floyd’s civil rights, plus a 22-year state sentence for second-degree murder. He was moved from a maximum-security Minnesota prison to Tucson in August 2022.
His lawyer, Eric Nelson, had fought to keep Chauvin isolated to protect him from other inmates. Nelson revealed Chauvin was mostly kept in solitary in Minnesota for his own safety.
Family Furious and Facility Under Fire
“The family is extremely disappointed that they allowed this to happen,” said Chauvin’s attorney Greg Erickson. “It’s not shocking he was targeted, but this points to a poorly run facility.”
After the attack, the FBI was alerted and visits to the prison, which holds about 380 inmates, were suspended. No prison staff were hurt during the incident.
Remembering George Floyd
George Floyd’s death on May 25, 2020, after Chauvin knelt on his neck for over nine minutes sparked global protests against police brutality and racism. Bystander footage of Floyd gasping “I can’t breathe” ignited a worldwide call for justice.
Chauvin’s appeal to overturn his murder conviction was rejected by the US Supreme Court last week. He is now trying to withdraw his federal guilty plea, claiming new evidence shows he didn’t cause Floyd’s death.
