Federal prosecutors allege John Turscak attacked former Minneapolis police officer with improvised weapon
On Friday, December 1, 2023, federal prosecutors charged John Turscak, a 52-year-old inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution in Tucson, Arizona, with attempted murder in connection with the stabbing of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin.
According to court documents, Turscak attacked Chauvin with an improvised weapon on November 24, 2023, while Chauvin was in the prison’s law library. Turscak allegedly stabbed Chauvin 22 times, causing serious bodily injury.
Chauvin is currently serving a 22.5-year federal sentence for violating George Floyd’s civil rights. Floyd died in 2020 after Chauvin kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes during an arrest in Minneapolis.
Turscak is a former gang member who is serving a 30-year sentence for racketeering and other crimes. He reportedly told investigators that he targeted Chauvin because of his notoriety for killing Floyd.
Turscak is charged with one count of attempted murder, one count of assault with intent to commit murder, one count of assault with a dangerous weapon, and one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury. If convicted, he faces up to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
“This was a brutal attack on a federal inmate,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona Gary Restain. “We will hold Mr. Turscak accountable for his actions.”
Turscak is currently being held in a segregation unit at the prison. He is scheduled to appear in federal court in Tucson on Monday, December 4, 2023.
