Kellie Chauvin, the wife of Derek Chauvin, the police officer charged in the murder of George Floyd, says she's "devastated by Mr. Floyd's death," and is filing for divorce.
The couple has been married for 10 years, according to NBC News.
The statement, which was posted on the Sekula Law Offices Facebook page, offered sympathy to Floyd's family and "everyone who is grieving this tragedy."
Kellie Chauvin was born in Laos and was crowned Mrs. Minnesota back in 2018 -- one of the first Hmong to ever earn the title.
She told the Pioneer Press that she met her husband when he dropped off a suspect at a Minneapolis hospital where she worked.
“Under that uniform, he’s just a softie,” the Oakdale resident said in the profile. “He’s such a gentleman. He still opens the door for me, still puts my coat on for me. After my divorce, I had a list of must-haves if I were ever to be in a relationship, and he fit all of them.”
“While Ms. Chauvin has no children from her current marriage, she respectfully requests that her children, her elder parents, and her extended family be given safety and privacy during this difficult time,” the statement said.
Chauvin was charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the death of George Floyd.
Chauvin was captured on video kneeling on Floyd’s neck while he was pleading, “please, please, please, I can’t breathe,” according to the criminal complaint.
Floyd was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
Officer Derek Chauvin, who was seen in the now-infamous video kneeling on the neck of George Floyd, had at least 12 conduct complaints against him.
During his 19 year career, Chauvin was involved in multiple shootings. In 2006, alleged suspect Wayne Reyes was shot several times, by five officers (including Chauvin) after Reyes got out of his truck armed with a shotgun. Reyes was killed after "several officers fired multiple shots," according to the records.
In the same year, Chuavin and seven others were named in a federal lawsuit filed by an inmate at the Minnesota Correctional Facility at Lino Lakes. The case was dismissed in 2007.
In 2008, Chauvin and his partner responded to a domestic disturbance where Ira Latrell Toles was shot and wounded. Toles reportedly reached for Chauvin's gun, and Chauvin responded by shooting Toles in the abdomen and injuring him. Chauvin along with the other officers were placed on paid leave during the investigation.