Derek Chauvin's Family Weighing Legal Options Over Prison Stabbing Situation
By Afouda Bamidele on November 27, 2023 at 9:15 PM EST
Derek Chauvin's family might be looking to wage a legal battle after being kept in the dark about the ex-cop stabbing.
Chauvin, who was convicted for the murder of George Floyd, was stabbed over the weekend on Friday, November 24, while at the Federal Correctional Institution [FCI] in Tucson.
Although the disgraced police officer is reportedly in stable condition, his family continues to bemoan the lack of transparency about the incident and his current well-being.
Derek Chauvin's Family Remains Clueless About Stabbing Incident
Per reports, Chauvin's loved ones are still in the dark about what went down in prison and their family member's current condition. The former cop's lawyer Gregory M. Erickson revealed that Chauvin's family still knows nothing about what led to him being stabbed in prison despite their pleas.
The attorney claimed that since the incident on Friday, he has reached out to prison officials eight times, but it has all been to no avail. To make things worse, Chauvin's relatives claimed they only heard about his stable condition from a prison official who contacted his father but it has been quiet ever since.
Erickson described the lack of transparency as "unjust and cruel," telling TMZ that he directly blames the federal facility in Tucson, AZ, for being sluggish with updating Chauvin's next of kin about what happened. In addition, he claims the prison facility was careless about the ex-cop's safety given that Chauvin is the most high-profile prisoner they have had in custody since, O.J. Simpson.
Erickson told the outlet that if Chauvin's family continues to be kept in the dark about the situation, they will weigh their legal options. However, it is unsure what their options would be at this point.
The news of Chauvin's stabbing made waves over the weekend, with an anonymous source not authorized to publicly discuss confirming that the convicted officer was stabbed by another inmate and seriously injured.
Later the Bureau of Prisons confirmed the incident via a statement to the Associated Press, saying that an incarcerated person was assaulted at FCI Tucson at around 12:30 p.m. local time Friday. The agency revealed that employees contained the incident and performed "life-saving measures" before the inmate was taken to a hospital for further treatment.
During the attack, no employees were injured and the FBI was informed, resulting in a suspension of visitation for the prison facility that holds about 380 inmates. Before the shocking incident, FCI Tucson had reportedly been plagued by security lapses and staffing shortages.
Derek Chauvin's Mother Said No One Contacted Her About Son's Stabbing
Erickson's revelation about the possibility of a lawsuit coming from the Chauvin family aligns with their outcry about finding out about the stabbing from the media.
In an earlier interview, Carolyn Pawlenty, the mother of the former Minneapolis Police officer, slammed the prison facility for not reaching out to her despite being listed as an emergency contact number.
"How the h— do these news agencies know and his own mother doesn't even know?" she lamented. "I can’t even think what to say. I haven't been to bed and made a path in my kitchen and living room floor by pacing."
Erickson also slammed the prison for its radio silence, saying, "It appears to be indicative of a poorly run facility and indicates how Derek’s assault was allowed to happen. How the family members who are in charge of Derek's decisions regarding his personal medical care and his emergency contact were not informed after his stabbing further indicates the institution’s poor procedures and lack of institutional control."
Twitter Reacts To Derek Chauvin's Stabbing
Following the news of the stabbing, many took to social media to share their thoughts. While some came to Chauvin's defense, others insinuated he deserved it.
"Thanks to the Supreme Court who wouldn’t review his case. Derek Chauvin is a political prisoner who just got stabbed in prison. He didn't deserve all of this," wrote a heartbroken fan.
Another Internet user shared a similar sentiment: "We're very sorry to hear about Derek Chauvin’s current troubles. We offer our thoughts and prayers for the entire Chauvin family during this difficult period. Now is not the right time to have a policy debate, so let’s not politicize the issue."
Another comment read, "So they stabbed Derek Chauvin on Black Friday? D—, you can't tell me black people ain’t funny.."
