Ex-Gang Member Charged With Stabbing Derek Chauvin

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Nov 27, 2023

Image copyright: Brandon Bell/Getty Images News [via Getty Images]story last updated Dec 02, 2023

The Facts

John Turscak, a former gang leader and one-time FBI informant serving a 30-year sentence, has been charged with attempted murder in the stabbing of fellow inmate Derek Chauvin at the Federal Correctional Institution in Tucson.
Turscak is accused of stabbing Chauvin, an ex-Minneapolis police officer convicted of murdering George Floyd, 22 times with an improvised knife in the federal prison's law library on Nov. 24.

The Spin

Narrative A

This near tragedy could've been more easily avoided had the federal prison system not been dealing with massive staff shortages and other shortfalls that have made it challenging to keep all prisoners secure. Assessments have been made, leading to reforms, but it's not possible to eradicate all danger from the prison system.

New York Times

Narrative B

This is a massive failure of the federal prison system, especially considering how many notorious prisoners have lately been the victims of violence while in custody. Even if reforms are being undertaken, it shouldn't have taken much more than basic common sense to keep Chauvin separated and safe from harm.