Donald Williams, MMA fighter and witness in George Floyd case, reaches $150K settlement with city
The Minneapolis City Council has agreed to pay a $150,000 settlement to Donald Williams, a mixed martial arts fighter who testified in the case that followed after the death of George Floyd in 2020.
Williams, an eyewitness who tried to intervene in Floyd’s murder claims he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the ordeal, according to an article from the Daily Mail.
Following Floyd’s death, Williams testified against former Officer Derek Chauvin in his 2021 murder trial. He then sued the city last spring, alleging he was assaulted by police while trying to prevent police from harming Floyd on May 25, 2020.
Williams told the jury in Chauvin’s trial the police officer executed what MMA fighters call a ‘blood choke‘ on Floyd, restricting his circulation.
The lawsuit alleged that Chauvin looked directly at Williams, grabbed a canister of chemical spray and began shaking it toward him and other bystanders expressing concern for Floyd’s welfare.
In video played at Chauvin’s trial, Williams can be heard urging Chauvin to get off Floyd and denouncing the officer as a ‘bum.’
As a result of the officers’ actions, Williams alleged in his lawsuit, he feared for his safety and endured pain, suffering, humiliation, embarrassment and medical expenses as a result of witnessing the incident.
Chauvin was convicted of state murder charges in Floyd’s death and was sentenced to 22-and-a-half years.
Donald Williams, 36, hold a pro MMA record of 6-6. He last competed in March 2019.
