Derek Chauvin Stabbed in Prison: Attacker Faces Attempted Murder Charges

Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, serving a 22-year sentence for the murder of George Floyd, was stabbed multiple times on November 24 at the Federal Correctional Institution in Tucson, Arizona. His lawyer, Gregory Erickson, confirmed that Chauvin was removed from a local hospital and returned to prison care for follow-up treatment. The incident involved John Turscak, 52, who is now facing severe charges, including attempted murder, assault, and more.

Chauvin was reportedly attacked in the prison library, stabbed 22 times with an improvised knife by Turscak, a fellow inmate serving a 30-year sentence for crimes associated with the Mexican Mafia prison gang. Charging documents revealed Turscak’s admission that he contemplated the attack for about a month due to Chauvin’s high-profile status but claimed he didn’t intend to kill him.

Turscak, during investigations, linked the attack to Black Lives Matter and the “Black Hand” symbol related to the Mexican Mafia gang, targeting Chauvin on the day after Thanksgiving as a symbolic gesture. Chauvin’s family, concerned about the prison’s ability to safeguard him, received confirmation from Chauvin himself regarding the factual accuracy of the charges. Erickson, Chauvin’s attorney, expressed ongoing worries about the facility’s safety protocols and stated efforts to relocate Chauvin unless substantial changes were implemented.

As of the latest updates, Turscak was moved to an adjacent federal penitentiary in Tucson following the stabbing, where he remains in custody pending legal proceedings. The severity of the charges pressed against Turscak, each carrying lengthy prison sentences, highlights the gravity of the attack on Chauvin within the correctional facility.

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