Federal prosecutors have disclosed that Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer infamous for George Floyd's killing, was stabbed 22 times in prison by a former gang leader and one-time FBI informant. The assailant, John Turscak, expressed to investigators that he specifically targeted Chauvin due to his high-profile notoriety for the Floyd case.
Turscak has been charged with attempted murder a week after the November 24 attack at the Federal Correctional Institution in Tucson, Arizona. He claimed he would have killed Chauvin if correctional officers hadn't responded promptly. Serving a 30-year sentence for crimes related to the Mexican Mafia, Turscak denies an intent to kill but admits planning the assault for a month, citing Chauvin's status as a high-profile inmate.
The attack, involving an improvised knife in the prison law library, occurred on Black Friday, with Turscak citing symbolic connections to the Black Lives Matter movement and the Mexican Mafia's "Black Hand" symbol. Charges against Turscak include attempted murder, assault with intent to commit murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, and assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Chauvin, now in stable condition, was sent to FCI Tucson in August 2022 to serve federal and state sentences for violating Floyd's civil rights and second-degree murder.
This incident follows increased scrutiny on the federal Bureau of Prisons, with notable incidents involving high-profile inmates in the past six months. Turscak, once an FBI informant, led a faction of the Mexican Mafia, providing information until dropped due to continued criminal activity. He pleaded guilty in 2001 to racketeering and conspiracy, expressing disappointment in not receiving a lighter sentence for his cooperation.
