Attorney General Barr on George Floyd video: 'Harrowing to watch and deeply disturbing'

WASHINGTON – Attorney General William Barr said the Justice Department is "proceeding quickly" with its investigation on the death of George Floyd, the Minneapolis man who was captured in a viral video lying face down on the ground while a police officer presses his knee into the 46-year-old's neck.

"The video images of the incident that ended with death of Mr. Floyd, while in custody of Minneapolis police officers, were harrowing to watch and deeply disturbing," Barr said Friday.

Floyd's death has reignited longstanding tensions between the Minneapolis Police Department and the black community. Floyd is black. Derek Chauvin, the white officer who was seen with his knee on Floyd's neck, has been charged in Hennepin County, Minnesota with third-degree murder and manslaughter.

All four officers involved have been fired. One can be seen in the video standing nearby while Chauvin's knee stayed on Floyd's neck for about eight minutes.

It remains unclear whether Chauvin and the three other officers – Thomas Lane, Tou Thao and J. Alexander Kueng – will also face federal charges.

The Justice Department has launched a parallel investigation on whether the officers committed civil rights violations. Barr said state officials will first make charging decisions before the Justice Department does.

The FBI and the chief federal prosecutor in Minnesota said Thursday that the investigation into Floyd's death is the Justice Department's "top priority."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: George Floyd video 'harrowing to watch and deeply disturbing': Barr