The mixed martial arts fighter who witnessed ex-Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin’s May 2020 arrest of George Floyd told a jury on Tuesday he called 911 after watching the events unfold because he believed he “witnessed a murder.”
The trial continued into its second day on Tuesday for Chauvin, a 45-year-old former officer who was seen on video holding his knee against Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes during the May 25 arrest. He is facing charges of second- and third-degree murder and manslaughter.
Donald Williams, a wrestler who said he was trained in MMA fighting, including chokeholds, began his testimony on Monday, when he described the restraint allegedly used by Chauvin as a “blood choke.”
In this image from video, witness Donald Williams answers questions as Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill presides Monday, March 29, 2021, in the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, in the May 25, 2020, death of George Floyd at the Hennepin County Courthouse in Minneapolis, Minn. Williams was testifying about what he saw of Floyd’s arrest. (Court TV via AP, Pool)
On Tuesday, he continued his description, recalling how Floyd’s eyes were “slowly rolling back.”
“You could see he was in tremendous pain,” Williams continued. “You could see that he was trying to gasp for air, and trying to be able to breathe as he’s down there. Trying to move his face side to side to … I’m assuming, gasp for more air.”
He said he felt that Floyd was “very much [in] danger.”
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He remained on the scene, even as the ambulance and paramedics arrived, and said Chauvin kept his knee on Floyd’s neck even as they did so. Williams said he later called the police because, “I believe I witnessed a murder.”
While on the call, Williams told the dispatcher “Officer 987,” whom he identified at trial as Chauvin, “pretty much just killed this guy that wasn’t resisting arrest.”
“He had his knee on this dude’s neck the whole time,” Williams said during the call. “He wasn’t resisting arrests or nothing. [He] was already in handcuffs.”
Williams could be heard during the call saying, “Y’all murderers,” and adding: “They just killed that man in front of the store.”
Williams was trained at the Minnesota Martial Arts Academy and was among the first prosecution witnesses. He described Monday how he was walking to the nearby Cup Foods store on May 25 when he “noticed there were two police squad cars there” and heard Floyd shouting: “My stomach hurts I can’t breathe, my head hurts, I can’t breathe … he pleaded with them.”
He said he thought Chauvin was using a shimmying motion that increased the pressure on Floyd. He also recalled yelling to Chauvin that he was cutting off Floyd’s blood supply.
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Williams described Monday how Floyd’s condition worsened “while he was going through this torture,” with his voice growing thicker and his breathing becoming more labored.
“From there on he was lifeless,” Williams said. “He didn’t move, he didn’t speak, he didn’t have no life in him no more on his body movements.”
Fox News’ Danielle Wallace contributed to this report, as well as The Associated Press.
This is a developing news story. Please check back for updates.