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Crime & Justice • Police Brutality

George Floyd

George Perry Floyd Jr.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

George Perry Floyd Jr. was an African American man from the United States who died on May 25, 2020, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, during an arrest by Minneapolis police. His death, which involved officer Derek Chauvin kneeling on Floyd's neck, was ruled a homicide and became a major catalyst for protests against police brutality.

Early life

George Perry Floyd Jr. was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina, in 1973. He later moved to Houston, Texas, where he grew up.

Death

Floyd died on May 25, 2020, during a police arrest in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Video of the encounter showed officer Derek Chauvin kneeling on Floyd's neck while Floyd said he could not breathe.

Derek Chauvin was later convicted in connection with Floyd's death. The case became one of the most widely discussed criminal justice cases of the decade.

Public response

Floyd's death sparked large protests and renewed global attention to police brutality and racial injustice. It became a central event in the modern Black Lives Matter movement.

Impact in Canada

George Floyd's death prompted public demonstrations and policy discussions in Canada about anti-Black racism, policing, and racial justice.

Key facts

  • George Floyd was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and grew up in Houston, Texas.
  • He was 46 years old when he died on May 25, 2020, during a Minneapolis police arrest.
  • Officer Derek Chauvin knelt on Floyd's neck and the death was ruled a homicide.
  • The case sparked widespread protests in the United States and around the world.
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Canadian context

George Floyd's death prompted public demonstrations and policy discussions in Canada about anti-Black racism, policing, and racial justice.

Frequently asked questions

How old was George Floyd when he died?
George Floyd was 46 years old when he died.
What happened to George Floyd?
George Floyd died during a Minneapolis police arrest on May 25, 2020; the medical examiner ruled the death a homicide.
Who killed George Floyd?
Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was the officer who knelt on Floyd's neck during the arrest and was convicted in connection with Floyd's death.
Where was George Floyd from?
George Floyd was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and later grew up in Houston, Texas.
What is George Floyd's full name?
His full name was George Perry Floyd Jr.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Floyd
    Supports: Full name, birth place, age at death, death date, and summary of early life
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/biography/George-Floyd
    Supports: Birth, death, age, and the role of Derek Chauvin in the death
  3. BBC News — https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52871936
    Supports: Age at death and background in Houston, Texas
  4. BBC News — https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52861726
    Supports: Death during a police arrest in Minneapolis
  5. CNN — https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/25/us/loved-ones-george-floyd-legacy
    Supports: Age at death and Derek Chauvin's responsibility in the death
  6. MPR News — https://www.mprnews.org/crime-law-and-justice/killing-of-george-floyd
    Supports: Age, death location, and the criminal case outcome
  7. Stanford University — https://exhibits.stanford.edu/saytheirnames/feature/george-floyd
    Supports: Birthplace, full name, arrest details, and death during restraint