MMA fighter who testified in George Floyd case charged with domestic assault
Donald Williams, a professional MMA fighter, who witnessed the death of George Floyd and later testified in Derek Chauvin’s murder trial, has been charged with domestic assault after allegedly attempting to strangle his ex-girlfriend and hitting her in the face after an argument near the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.
Williams, 34, of Minneapolis, also is “accused of resisting arrest and threatening to kill St. Paul police officers, who were sent to a domestic abuse call at Asbury Street and Midway Parkway around 5:15 p.m. Saturday,” according to a report from Yahoo News.
“Later, in an interview with police, Williams denied strangling or hitting the woman. He said he suffers from PTSD related to Floyd’s death and Chauvin’s trial, according to charges,” the report said.
Williams was among those who pleaded with police on May 25, 2020, as Chauvin pressed his knee on Floyd’s neck while three other Minneapolis officers stood by.
Last year, Williams testified during Chauvin’s state trial last year that based on his training he thinks Chauvin was using a blood choke on Floyd, which he also described as “torture.”
Williams has a 6-6 professional MMA record, last competing in March 2019 where he lost by submission to a triangle choke in the second round of a fight against Jesse Wannemacher at North Star Combat 10.
Williams was charged Monday with felony domestic assault by strangulation and misdemeanor domestic assault-intentionally inflicts/attempts to inflict bodily harm. He made a first appearance on the charges on Tuesday and was conditionally released.
