Mayor Michael Hancock took to Twitter to comment on the death of George Floyd, a black man who died on Monday while in the custody of a white Minneapolis police officer. Hancock called on the officers involved to be charged.
Floyd's death prompted protests in Minneapolis and looting this week, according to Minnesota Public Radio. Four officers involved in the incident have been fired. Video of the incident shows Floyd handcuffed while the officer had his knee on his neck. Floyd repeatedly told the officer he was in pain and couldn't breathe.
"The video of this senseless and tragic murder of George Floyd, at the hands of these Minneapolis Police officers, infuriates me!" Hancock said on Twitter while sharing a New York Times story on the incident. "Nothing short of murder charges for all involved will bring any element of justice to this situation."
Hancock, only the second black mayor in Denver's history, then offered condolences to "Floyd's family, loved ones and everyone who has been impacted by yet another tragedy of this magnitude." His calls to charge officers echoes those of Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who on Wednesday called on prosecutors to press charges on the arresting officer.
Denver police officers have been involved in at least four fatal use-of-force incidents this year, all of them shootings. In 2010, Marvin Booker died in the Downtown Detention Center while being restrained by Denver sheriff's deputies, resulting in a $6 million settlement agreement with his family.
