Tou Thao released from federal prison; now under Anoka County supervision

📌 Key Facts

Tou Thao, a former Minneapolis police officer convicted in George Floyd's murder, was released Monday from a federal facility in Lexington, Kentucky; Minnesota Department of Corrections records had listed that Monday as his anticipated release date.
Thao had been serving his federal sentence at the Lexington, Kentucky facility prior to release.
He is now under post-release supervision through Anoka County Corrections.
The release comes after the earlier releases of former officers J. Alexander Kueng and Thomas Lane; Derek Chauvin remains imprisoned.
The release was reported by Alpha News MN and FOX 9 Minneapolis–St. Paul on Nov. 3, 2025.

Some X users argue that Tou Thao was unfairly convicted and was merely performing his duties, attributing George Floyd's death primarily to Floyd's own drug use and criminal actions rather than police misconduct.
Posts on X highlight discussions within the Asian American community about anti-blackness, using Thao's role in the incident as a catalyst for addressing racial biases and solidarity with Black communities.
Perspectives on X include Thao's own statements from prison interviews, where he claims the convictions were influenced by racial factors, such as Derek Chauvin's race, which mainstream coverage does not delve into.
X users express concerns about the impact on police morale and recruitment, suggesting that the prosecutions have deterred people from joining law enforcement in Minneapolis.
Community reactions on X emphasize renewed calls for police accountability, with some viewing Thao's release as a reminder of insufficient consequences for officers involved in Floyd's death.

Based on 3 sources

FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul by Howard.Thompson@fox.com (Howard Thompson) November 03, 2025

New information:

Alpha News MN by Anthony Gockowski November 03, 2025

New information:

Startribune October 28, 2025