Prison Inmate Charged with Attempted Murder of Derek Chauvin
December 2, 2023Ex-Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was severely injured last week during an incident with another inmate at a federal prison in Arizona. His alleged attacker, John Turscak, a former Mexican Mafia gang member, was charged with attempted murder for stabbing Chauvin 22 times with a makeshift knife. Turscak, currently serving 30 years for crimes committed while part of the gang, planned the attack for almost a month due to Chauvin’s connection to the 2020 murder of George Floyd.
The incident occurred in the prison’s law library on the day after Thanksgiving, with prison staff able to intervene and perform life-saving measures on Chauvin, who is expected to survive. Turscak allegedly chose Black Friday as a symbolic date, referencing the Black Lives Matter movement and the “Black Hand” symbol connected to the Mexican Mafia.
Before the attack, Turscak was set to complete his current prison sentence in 2026. However, the 52-year-old now faces charges of attempted murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault with intent to commit murder and assault resulting in serious bodily injury, each carrying a maximum sentence of 20 years. Turscak has been transferred to a nearby penitentiary in Tucson, where he remains in custody.
Chauvin, 47, is serving 22½ years for causing Floyd’s death, on a second-degree murder conviction which he recently appealed. He is also serving a concurrent 21-year sentence for violating Floyd’s civil rights. Floyd’s death sparked international protests against racial injustice after bystander video captured Chauvin kneeling on Floyd’s neck for 9½ minutes.