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LaHood: 'There Needs To Be Justice Served' In George Floyd Case

U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood is calling for a full investigation into the Minneapolis police officers involved in George Floyd's death.

"I have an immense respect for law enforcement, but what happened in Minneapolis from what I've seen, and what I've observed, and what I've read is disturbing and sobering. And that's not what people expect from our police officers," he said.

LaHood, a Peoria Republican and former federal prosecutor, said the actions of the four police officers involved should be scrutinized closely, and criminal charges should be brought forward against the officer who knelt on Floyd's neck if found warranted by investigators.

"There needs to be justice served, for, it appears, the terrible death at the hands directly of this police officer," he said.

He also commended the involvement of the FBI and Department of Justice in the investigation efforts.

LaHood said he hadn't seen President Donald Trump's tweets remarking "when the looting starts, the shooting starts," but said there shouldn't be promotion of violence on behalf of the federal government.

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Tim Shelley is the News Director at WCBU Peoria Public Radio.