In this article, we'll be taking an in-depth look at the full body camera footage of the tragic event that led to George Floyd's death. We aim to provide a comprehensive account and clarification of various aspects of the incident.

On May 25, 2020, the world was shaken by the death of George Floyd, an African American man who died after a Minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin, knelt on his neck. The event was filmed by a bystander, and the video went viral, sparking protests and calls for police reform across the United States and beyond.

Although the bystander's video provided a glimpse into the harrowing final moments of Floyd's life, the release of the full body camera footage from the arresting officers granted a deeper understanding of what transpired that day. This article looks into the details unveiled by the footage.

The full body camera videos were leaked and made available to the public in August 2020, with the footage offering multiple perspectives from officers Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng, and Tou Thao.

As soon as the incident began, Thomas Lane and J. Alexander Kueng, who were the first responding officers on the scene, approached George Floyd's vehicle. The suspect, reportedly in possession of a counterfeit $20 bill, was confronted with firearms drawn by the officers. After a few moments of hesitation and anxiety from the suspect, the officers managed to get George Floyd out of the vehicle.

The video reveals that throughout the encounter, Floyd consistently pleads with the officers not to shoot him, as he was feeling claustrophobic and uncomfortable sitting in the back of the patrol car. The officers attempt to calm him down, while concurrently insisting that Floyd comply with their orders.

Subsequently, Derek Chauvin and Tou Thao arrived at the scene. The four officers struggled to get Floyd into the back of the squad car, thus resulting in him being handcuffed and placed facedown onto the ground.

In one of the most distressing parts of the footage, Chauvin proceeds to kneel on Floyd's neck, compressing it between the officer's knee and the pavement. As Floyd repeatedly exclaims that he cannot breathe, the other officers can be seen in the video holding down the suspect's legs and midsection.

Bystanders gathered around the scene, and a passerby with medical training urged the officers to check Floyd's pulse. In the video, Lane can be heard suggesting Chauvin to switch to a different restraint method, colloquially known as the "side recovery position." Chauvin declined, opting to persist in his kneeling position.

After about nine minutes, the officers were unable to detect a pulse, and the paramedics arrived on the scene. When the full body camera footage became public, it provided critical context to the sequence of events that occurred throughout the encounter.

Analyzing the actions and decisions taken by the involved officers is crucial to understanding the legal ramifications and public outrage that ensued. It is essential to consider the various aspects of the case, which include the use of force, the responsibility of the arresting officers, and the broader implications concerning systemic racism and police brutality.

The full body camera footage revealed the sheer force exerted by the arresting officers and the failure to prioritize the human rights of George Floyd. The extreme measures taken in detaining Floyd magnify the significant issues that led to the international call for police reform and the abolition of aggressive police tactics.