George Floyd’s brother Philonise testifies in the trial of Derek Chauvin
George Floyd’s younger brother, Philonise, burst into tears after seeing a photo of his brother and mother during the Derek Chauvin trial.
Staff Video, USA TODAY
The claim: A man charged with murder in North Carolina is the younger brother of George Floyd
While George Floyd’s younger brother testified tearfully on April 12 in the trial of the former Minneapolis police officer charged with Floyd’s death, claims spread online that another brother or sister was on trial for his murder charge. .
The Facebook post on April 11 claims that Dejywan Floyd, charged during a shooting incident in North Carolina that took place in March, is the younger brother of George Floyd, who was killed by Minneapolis police last year.
“Why is it not on the news channels?” Ask the post.
The post has been hampered online while the trial of the man accused of causing George Floyd’s death draws national attention. Derek Chauvin is charged with second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter for kneeling on Floyd’s neck for more than 9 minutes. The deaths affected protests in the country.
While the outrage has been covered by both national and local media, no connection between George Floyd and Dejywan Floyd is mentioned. Because there is no one.
The account that shared the post did not respond to a request for comment.
More: Derek Chauvin trial live: Defense medical expert says George Floyd’s death was due to underlying heart issues
Road rage shooting
Dejyan Floyd, 29, is charged with first-degree murder after allegedly shooting at another car during a road rage confrontation in Robeson County, North Carolina.
The Robeson County Sheriff arrested Dejywan Floyd in the early hours of April 1, a week after law enforcement officials said he shot dead a woman on Interstate 95.
After the vehicle in which the Pennsylvania woman was driving came near Dejywan Floyd’s car during a merger on March 25, Floyd allegedly pulled past the vehicle and shot at the passenger door, according to a press release from the sheriff. The woman was taken to a hospital, where she later died.
More: Fact check: Viral image does not show President Joe Biden apologizing to George Floyd’s child
According to the Associated Press, she traveled to the beach with her husband to celebrate their wedding anniversary. Her husband was not hurt.
Dejywan Floyd is also facing a charge of shooting a gun in a moving vehicle.
No relationship
George Floyd was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina, in Cumberland County. Cumberland County borders Robeson County, where Dejywan Floyd comes from.
However, the two are not brothers.
“Dejywan Floyd is not related to George Floyd,” said Ryan Julison, spokesman for the George Floyd Memorial Foundation, the non-profit organization founded by Floyd’s sister and other family members.
In an obituary from Buie’s Funeral Home in North Carolina, three brothers, three sisters, two stepbrothers and two step-sisters are listed among George Floyd’s siblings. None of them are named Dejywan Floyd.
A search of public records yielded no results to indicate that the two men were related.
More: Nancy Pelosi describes the impact the Derek Chauvin trial had on her, calling George Floyd’s death a ‘public assassination’.
Ben Crump, a lawyer representing George Floyd’s family, did not respond to a request for comment.
Robeson County Sheriff Burnis Wilkins told the United States TODAY that “Floyd is a very common name in our country.”
“We have no reason to believe the rumor, nor have we checked it, because it has no bearing on our investigation,” he said in an email.
Our verdict: False
The allegation that Dejywan Floyd, who is charged with murder in a North Carolina rage shooting, is the younger brother of George Floyd is FALSE. A spokesman for the Floyd Foundation said the two were not related, and that George Floyd’s obituary did not include Dejywan Floyd among his siblings. The sheriff of the country where Dejywan Floyd was arrested said Floyd is a common name in the area.
Our sources for fact checking:
- Fox 43, April 1, “North Carolina man charged with murder in connection with road rage death of Lancaster County mother of six children”
- USA TODAY, April 12, “Derek Chauvin Trial: A Role Model. A Mom’s Boy.” A soccer player. Younger brother remembers George Floyd for jurors “
- Minneapolis Star Tribune, March 18, “What are the charges against Derek Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer, in the murder of George Floyd?”
- North Carolina Judicial Branch, Dejywan Floyd Charged On April 14
- Sheriff’s Office on Robeson County Facebook, April 1, press release
- The Associated Press, April 1, “Man charged with murder in North Carolina rage”
- North Carolina Judicial Branch, Retrieved April 14, Dejywan Floyd Charges
- USA TODAY, June 6, 2020, ” George Floyd fueled ‘: Hundreds gather for NC memorial to man whose death inspired’ movement ‘”
- Showers Funeral Home, accessed April 14, George Floyd obituary
- Politifact, April 12, “No, George Floyd’s younger brother has not been arrested for murder”
- George Floyd Memorial Foundation, Visited April 14, About Us
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