Star witness and MMA fighter who tried to intervene in George Floyd's killing reaches $150K settlement with city over his PTSD

The Minneapolis City Council has agreed to pay a $150,000 settlement to an eyewitness who tried to intervene in George Floyd's murder and claims  he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder as a result.

Donald Williams, a mixed martial arts fighter who testified against former Officer Derek Chauvin in his 2021 murder trial, sued the city last spring, alleging he was assaulted by police while trying to prevent Floyd's death on May 25, 2020.

The council unanimously approved the settlement without discussion, The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported.

The lawsuit alleged that Chauvin looked directly at Williams, grabbed a canister of chemical spray and began shaking it toward him and other bystanders expressing concern for Floyd's welfare. 

In video played at Chauvin's trial, Williams can be heard urging Chauvin to get off Floyd and denouncing the officer as a 'bum.' 

The Minneapolis City Council approved a $150,000 settlement for Donald Williams, pictured, an eyewitness who tried to stop George Floyd's murder and suffers from PTSD

Floyd was murdered by Chauvin after he was placed under arrest in Minneapolis on May 25 2020, on suspicion of using a counterfeit $20 bill

Demonstrators held up portraits of George Floyd and signs calling for 'justice for George' outside the trial of Police Officer Derek Chauvin

Paul, a volunteer, cleans 'George Floyd Square,' the place where George Floyd died in police custody in May 2020

Floyd's death touched off protests worldwide and forced a national reckoning with police brutality and racism. Lots of murals were also painted in tribute 

Former Officer Tou Thao then stepped toward Williams and placed a hand on his chest, the lawsuit stated.

Williams told the jury in Chauvin's trial the officer executed what MMA fighters call a 'blood choke' on Floyd, restricting his circulation.

'The officer on top was shimmying to actually get the final choke in while he was on top, the kill choke,' Williams told Minnesota Assistant Attorney General Matthew Frank during direct examination of Chauvin's trial. 

Williams said he had watched Floyd ‘fade away like a fish in a bag.’

He said, ‘You see his eyes slowly pale out and he knew...he vocalized it, his eyes rolled to the back of his head, you saw the blood coming out of his nose, he said his stomach hurt and from then on he was lifeless. He didn’t speak.’

Based on his experience Williams said that what he witnessed was a 'kill choke', cutting off Floyd’s circulation at his neck.

As a result of the officers' actions, Williams alleged in his lawsuit, he feared for his safety and endured pain, suffering, humiliation, embarrassment and medical expenses as a result of witnessing the incident. 

In April 2021, Chauvin was found guilty for Floyd's murder and is serving a 22-year-and-a-half prison sentence in Minnesota

A makeshift memorial for Floyd at the spot of his fatal arrest in May 2020

Floyd, who was black, died on May 25, 2020, after Chauvin, who is white, kneeled on his neck for 9-and-one-half-minutes outside a convenience store where Floyd had tried to pass a counterfeit $20 bill. 

Bystander video captured Floyd's fading cries of 'I can't breathe.' 

Floyd's death touched off protests worldwide and forced a national reckoning with police brutality and racism.

Chauvin was convicted of state murder charges in Floyd's death and was sentenced to 22-and-a-half years. 

He also pleaded guilty to a separate federal charge of violating Floyd's civil rights.

Thao and two other former officers involved are serving shorter sentences.