Derek Chauvin's mom has broken her silence over the reports claiming that her son was attacked and stabbed in prison.
Over the weekend, it was reported that the 47-year-old former Minneapolis police offered had been left seriously injured after being attacked in the Federal Correctional Institution in Tucson, Arizona.
Chauvin - who is currently serving time behind bars for his part in the killing of George Floyd back in 2020 - was allegedly stabbed by another inmate, according to sources who spoke to the Associated Press.
Although they did not mention Chauvin by name, the Bureau of Prisons confirmed to the press in a statement that a detainee had been stabbed at 12:30PM local time on Friday (November 24) at the medium-security prison - a facility that has also been criticized for security lapses and staffing shortages.
"No employees were injured during the incident," the statement read, per PEOPLE. "Responding employees initiated life-saving measures for one incarcerated individual. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) were requested while life-saving efforts continued."
"The incarcerated individual was transported by EMS to a local hospital for further treatment and evaluation," the statement concluded.
In a press release to CNN, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison - whose office prosecuted Chauvin in the George Floyd case - named the former cop as the victim in the attack, saying: "I am sad to hear that Derek Chauvin was the target of violence. He was duly convicted of his crimes and, like any incarcerated individual, he should be able to serve his sentence without fear of retaliation or violence."
Now, Chauvin's mom and lawyer have spoken out about the reported attack.
Speaking to Alpha News, mom Carolyn Pawlenty revealed that she learned of her son's attack through the media.
"How the hell do these news agencies know and his own mother doesn’t even know? And that [prison] has an emergency contact number [for me]," Pawlenty said.
"I can’t even think what to say. I haven’t been to bed and made a path in my kitchen and living room floor by pacing. I am worried and scared," she added. "I have to stay strong for Derek as he does for me. There is no stronger love than a mother’s love."
Elsewhere in the article, Chauvin's attorney, Bill Mohrman, told the outlets: "We have attempted to contact the Bureau of Prisons regarding the media reports regarding Mr. Chauvin and we have not heard back."
The FBI was also reportedly notified over the incident, and visiting at the Arizona facility has been suspended at this time.
Chauvin is currently serving time after being found guilty of George Floyd's murder.
This incident - which caused protests worldwide - was captured on camera and showed Chauvin kneeling on Floyd's neck for more than nine minutes on May 25, 2020.
Floyd's fading cries of "I can’t breathe" could be heard throughout the footage.
Chauvin was later found guilty of Floyd's murder and sentenced to 22 years in prison. He was given a further 20-year sentence in July 2022 for violating Floyd's civil rights.
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