John Turscak: Man Accused of Stabbing Derek Chauvin 22 Times

John Turscak, 52, was charged with the federal prison stabbing of Derek Chauvin on Black Friday, saying it was symbolic.

John Turscak, 52, has been charged with attempted murder, assault to commit murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, and assault resulting in serious bodily injury after allegedly stabbing Derek Chauvin in federal prison. The incident occurred in the law library of the Tuscon Federal Correctional Institution on November 26, where Turscak used an improvised knife.

In a post-Miranda interview with FBI agents, Turscak admitted that he had been contemplating assaulting Chauvin for about a month due to his high-profile nature. He seized the opportunity on Black Friday, choosing that day symbolically in connection to the Black Lives Matter movement and the "Black Hand" symbol associated with the Mexican Mafia.

Turscak has a criminal history dating back to 1990 when he joined the Mexican Mafia. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison in 2001 for crimes committed while working as a federal informant. During his time in the mafia, he admitted to authorizing assaults, collecting "taxes" from street gangs and drug dealers, and being involved in narcotics trafficking. He also confessed to murdering a man in 1990 and authorizing another murder in 1998.

Derek Chauvin was hospitalized after the attack but is reported to be in stable condition as of Saturday. His family has received no updates following the incident. The stabbing has raised concerns about federal prison security and the safety of high-profile inmates.

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