Details have emerged revealing the harrowing prison attack on former Minneapolis officer Derek Chauvin, who was stabbed 22 times by ex-Mexican Mafia member John Turscak, 52, inside a Tucson federal prison.
Prosecutors disclosed that Turscak indicated he would have fatally wounded Chauvin if not for the swift intervention of corrections officers.
The assault, carried out on Black Friday, November 24, was purposefully timed as a symbolic gesture linked to the Black Lives Matter movement, according to investigators familiar with the case.
Charged with attempted murder, assault with intent to commit murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, and assault resulting in bodily injury, Turscak, currently serving a 30-year sentence for crimes committed while acting as an FBI informant, reportedly harbored intentions of attacking Chauvin for months.
Using an improvised knife, Turscak specifically targeted Chauvin with the clear intent to inflict severe harm, as outlined in the criminal complaint detailing the incident.
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In interviews conducted by FBI agents on November 26, Turscak stated his choice of Black Friday for the assault was a deliberate nod to the Black Lives Matter movement and the ‘Black Hand’ symbol linked with the Mexican Mafia criminal organization.
The assault occurred around 12:30 p.m. inside the facility’s law library, with officers resorting to pepper spray to subdue Turscak. Chauvin, currently serving a 22-year sentence for the death of George Floyd, underwent emergency medical treatment following the attack, necessitating life-saving measures by prison staff.
During his FBI interview, Turscak waived his Miranda Rights but denied intending to murder Chauvin. Notably, a legal representative for Turscak was not listed, although he has represented himself in prior instances.
Following the incident, Turscak has been relocated to an adjacent federal facility, where he remains in custody pending further legal proceedings.