Stephen Jackson on George Floyd's Death: 'I Haven't Been the Same'

Eric Gay/Associated Press

Former NBA guard Stephen Jackson said Thursday he's struggling to cope with the death of George Floyd, a lifelong friend who died Monday after being physically restrained while in the custody of Minneapolis police.

Jackson appeared on NBC's Today show to discuss Floyd, whom he met while growing up in the Houston area, and said the situation has "destroyed" him:

Jackson said he watched the video, which showed a police officer holding his knee against Floyd's neck on the ground Monday while Floyd repeated that he was unable to breathe, before realizing it was his friend. Floyd later died in hospital.

Omar Jimenez, Nicole Chavez and Jason Hanna of CNN reported Thursday the attorney for former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin confirmed his client in shown in the video. Chauvin and three other officers—Thomas Lane, Tou Thao and J. Alexander Kueng—were fired by the department Tuesday.

No criminal charges have been filed in the case, though Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey requested Chauvin be charged Wednesday:

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"Change is going to start with George Floyd," Jackson said on Today. "We're going to get change. This is not right."

He added: "I'm going to get justice for my friend."

Floyd's death has led to large-scale protests in Minneapolis each of the last two nights.