Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin listens as prosecutor Jerry Blackwell delivers the rebuttal to the defense closing arguments during Chauvin’s trial for second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota on April 19, 2021.
REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg
MINNEAPOLIS — Jurors in the murder trial of ex-cop Derek Chauvin for the death of George Floyd began deliberating on Monday — as the city sits on edge awaiting the verdict.
Chauvin, 45, faces murder and manslaughter charges in Floyd’s police custody death on May 25. He faces up to 40 years in prison if convicted.
Some 3,000 National Guard troops are in the city to beef up police presence in the Minnesota city, while business owners in the heart of the city have boarded up windows in anticipation of unrest when the verdict comes.
City public schools have also cancelled in-person learning starting Wednesday.
“It’s scary,” Minneapolis student Jenea Hayes, 19 told The Post Monday. “I don’t know who is a good cop or bad cop.”
“I just want the protests to be peaceful,” Hayes said. “I don’t want violence. I’m scared.”