‘I want people to remember him that way’: Boss of George Floyd says he was a ‘calm, nice guy’
[anvplayer video=”4912245″ station=”998122″]
5 EYEWITNESS NEWS is learning more about George Floyd from those who knew him. Floyd worked as a security guard at a local bistro in Minneapolis.
“The security that worked here, sent me a text message saying there was a video on Facebook in which a black guy was killed by a police officer, and he thought it was Floyd. I sent a text to Floyd, ‘Hey Floyd, are you okay?’” said Jovanni Thunstrom, owner of Conga Latin Bistro where Floyd worked.
But when Thunstrom never heard back, that’s when he knew Floyd was gone.
More from KSTP:
‘This is the right call’: Officers involved in fatal Minneapolis incident fired, mayor says
“It hit me hard. Because he, he wasn’t only an employee. He was my friend. He was my tenant. He was someone that, everyone here loves him. And to watch that video, it was hard to watch,” said Thunstrom.
Thunstrom said Floyd was no stranger to going the extra mile.
[Ben Crump Law, PLLC]
“(He) even drove a person that was intoxicated home. He’s the type of guy that if you need help, and if he can, he will help you,” said Thunstrom.
Thunstrom says Floyd enjoyed learning about Latin culture.
“He wanted me to teach him how to Bachata dance. And I gave up because I couldn’t turn him because he was 6’6.”
It made Thunstrom sick to see the friendly security guard he always knew being held down.
“They just treated him like some kind of animal, like a dog, like he’s going to bite you, pin him down and step on him. He didn’t deserve that,” said Thunstrom. “Floyd, he wasn’t the bad guy. He had other problems, but we all have problems. He wasn’t the type that was aggressive, disrespectful. He was very calm, nice guy. I want people to remember him that way.”