Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, currently serving a lengthy jail sentence for murdering George Floyd, has been stabbed at an Arizona prison, according to several media sources.
U.S. media reported Saturday the 47-year-old was seriously injured by another inmate.
Chauvin, a white police officer, is serving multiple sentences for the black man’s death, which triggered huge protests against police brutality and racism.
A person familiar with the matter told CNN Chauvin was assaulted Friday at the Federal Correctional Institution in Tucson and was in stable condition.
“Responding employees-initiated life-saving measures for one incarcerated individual. No employees were injured during the incident,” the Bureau of Prisons said in a statement seen by the news channel, adding that Chauvin was transferred to a hospital for treatment.
The reported incident comes days after the Supreme Court rejected the convict’s appeal, in which it was argued that he had not received a fair trial for the killing of Mr Floyd – who died after Chauvin knelt on his neck for more than nine minutes in 2020.
The killing – captured on a bystander’s phone camera – sparked global outrage and a wave of demonstrations against racial injustice and police use of force.
Chauvin was later found guilty of Mr. Floyd’s murder and sentenced to 22 years in prison.
He was given a further 20-year sentence in July 2022 for violating Mr Floyd’s civil rights.
Some information in this story was obtained from the BBC.