In October, J. Alexander Kueng entered a guilty plea to a state charge of helping to commit second-degree manslaughter. His plea was entered on the same day that his trial was scheduled to begin jury selection. His guilty plea and the decision of another officer to let a judge decide his fate prevented a third lengthy and difficult trial over Floyd’s death.

It is anticipated that the former Minneapolis police officer who kneeled on George Floyd’s back while another officer kneeled on the Black man’s neck will receive a manslaughter sentence on Friday.

On May 25, 2020, former Officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on Floyd’s neck for nine and a half minutes while Floyd said he couldn’t breathe and eventually went limp. Floyd later died. As part of a larger reckoning with racial injustice, worldwide protests were sparked by the killing, which was caught on camera by a bystander.

During the restraint, Kueng sat Kueng down on Floyd’s back. Tou Thao, who was also an officer at the time, prevented bystanders from intervening. At the time, Officer Thomas Lane held Floyd’s legs. State and federal charges were brought against each officer after they were fired.

J. Alexander Kueng parents: John Dennis Kueng, Joni L. Kueng

John Dennis Kueng, Alexander’s father, is a certified registered nurse anesthetic. His mother, Joni L. Kueng, is white and works as a math teacher.