On Wednesday President Donald Trump announced he has directed the FBI and Department of Justice to investigate George Floyd's death after the man died in police custody this week.
Trump told his Twitter supporters, “At my request, the FBI and the Department of Justice are already well into an investigation as to the very sad and tragic death in Minnesota of George Floyd. I have asked for this investigation to be expedited and greatly appreciate all of the work done by local law enforcement. My heart goes out to George’s family and friends. Justice will be served!”
Floyd, 46, died on Monday after he was handcuffed and pinned to the ground by law enforcement officers in an incident that sparked widespread outrage after video of the incident went viral on social media.
"The arrest of Mr. Floyd took place on Monday evening. The Minneapolis Police Department said in a statement that officers had responded to a call about a man suspected of forgery,” The New York Times reported. “The police said the man was found sitting on top of a blue car and ‘appeared to be under the influence.'”
The Times added that videos that surfaced online of the incident did not show what happened prior to the police officers pinning Floyd on the ground.
The Minneapolis Police Department identified the four police officers involved in the arrest as Derek Chauvin, Thomas Lane, Tou Thao and J. Alexander Kueng.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said on Tuesday that all four police officers were fired.
Despite the President and Mayor's quick response to this incident, it didn't stop some residents of Minneapolis from using the incident as an excuse to riot and loot.
MINNEAPOLIS, USA - MAY 27: People continue the second day of protests in Minneapolis on Wednesday, May 27, 2020, over the death of George Floyd. George Floyd died in police custody in Minneapolis on Monday night, after an officer held his knee into Floyd's neck for more than 5 minutes. (Photo by Jordon Strowder/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)