Shots fired on anniversary of George Floyd’s death as Joe Biden meets with family

Multiple gunshots were fired into a crowd as thousands gathered across the US to mark one year since George Floyd’s murder, which sparked a racial reckoning and police reform.

Multiple gunshots were fired at a memorial in Minneapolis to mark a year since the murder of black man George Floyd as his family was welcomed to the White House by President Joe Biden.

At least one person was injured in the gunfire which was caught on film and came after several people were heard yelling at each other near the corner where Floyd was killed.

Minneapolis police said they responded to reports of gunfire at 10:09am Tuesday and that witnesses reported that a suspect vehicle was “last seen leaving the area at a high rate of speed”.

A community leader speaks at George Floyd Corner in Minneapolis. Picture: Getty

Activists and supporters of Black Lives Matter, gather in front of Los Angeles Police Departments headquarters, on the one-year anniversary of George Floyd's death. Picture: AFP

“A short period of time later, an individual showed up at Abbott Northwestern Hospital suffering from a gunshot wound,” a police spokesman said.

“The victim has been transported to Hennepin County Medical Center for treatment.”

In video footage taken at the moment the gunshots broke out, people could be seen crouching behind cars and running for cover as more than two dozen shots rang out.

“Get down,” a man was heard shouting.

From our vantage point we see one broken window, apparently from one of the shots fired. Consensus among reporters here at George Floyd Square was that we heard anywhere between a dozen and two dozen shots fired.

— Philip Crowther (@PhilipinDC) May 25, 2021

Floyd’s death sparked a racial reckoning and propelled a growing movement to defund police across the United States, where violent crime is spiralling in cities across the country.

Memorials were held in cities across America and overseas for Floyd, who was under the influence of drugs when he was arrested for trying to use a counterfeit $20 to buy a packet of cigarettes.

Former officer Derek Chauvin is awaiting sentence after being found guilty of murder last month.

Kia Bible (R), comforts Mileesha Smith after a disturbance in the intersection of 38th Street and Chicago Ave in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Picture: Getty Images/AFP

Former police officer, Derek Chauvin (right), was found guilty of the murder of George Floyd (left). Picture: Facebook

His trial heard that he knelt on Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes until he stopped breathing.

Three officers who attended the arrest with Chauvin face a separate trial.

The shooting came as Floyd’s family was welcomed at the White House by US President Joe Biden.

Floyd’s daughter Gianna, his mother, sister and brothers gathered in the US Capitol with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democratic members of Congress.

While the adults discussed their hopes for police reform, it was seven-year-old Gianna — hugging her mother Roxie Washington — who eloquently addressed the lasting legacy of her late father, saying he will “change the world.”

A girl in Foley Square to commemorate the anniversary of George Floyd's death in New York City. Picture: Getty Images/AFP

George Floyd family lawyer Ben Crump (R) holds up his fist with family members outside the White House. Picture: AFP

The Floyd family were in Washington to lobby for Congress to pass a reform bill known as the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.

“If you can make federal laws to protect the bird, the bald eagle, you can make federal laws to protect people of colour,” Philonise Floyd, George’s younger brother, said as he emerged from the private meeting, which lasted over an hour.

Philonise Floyd, the brother of George Floyd, puts his arm around House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-CA, as he and other members of the Floyd family meet with leaders in the Rayburn Room of the US Capitol in Washington, DC. Picture: AFP

George Floyd's daughter Gianna (C) looks on as members of her father’s family speak outside the White House after meeting with US President Joe Biden. Picture: AFP

Another brother, Terrence Floyd, said as he left the White House that he was encouraged by the “productive conversation” in which Biden and Harris were eager to “actually give an ear to our concerns.”

While the adults discussed their hopes for police reform, it was seven-year-old Gianna — hugging her mother Roxie Washington — who eloquently addressed the lasting legacy of her late father, saying he would “change the world.” “He did,” Biden said in a statement after meeting the family nearly a year after their first encounter ahead of Floyd’s funeral.

“The Floyd family has shown extraordinary courage, especially his young daughter Gianna, who I met again today,” Biden added.

George Floyd's brother Philonise Floyd wipes his face on Black Lives Matter plaza after a meeting at the White House with US President Joe Biden in Washington, DC. Picture: AFP

Tommy McBrayer, a community organiser, calls to people at George Floyd Memorial Square in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Picture: AFP

He told reporters he was “hopeful” that a deal could be struck on the police reforms after the Memorial Day holiday this weekend.

A spate of shootings in the United States over the weekend left dozens of people dead and injured.

Homicides, mostly gun-driven, rocketed by a historic 30 per cent last year over 2019, and are currently running an estimated 20-25 per cent above a year ago.

Experts say there is no one explanation for the mounting carnage that affects nearly all major cities.

While it is partially due to the lifting of coronavirus restrictions, critics of the push to defund police departments say it is emboldening criminals.

– with AFP