The jury found Cop Derek Chauvin guilty of causing the death of African American George Floyd during his arrest attempt last May, and President Joe Biden congratulated the Floyd family after the verdict.
A 12-member jury found Chauvin, 45, guilty of all murder counts, after hearing over three weeks of testimony from 45 people, including bystanders, police officials and medical experts.
The deliberations began on Monday, and lasted more than 10 hours, and ended with Judge Peter Cahill announcing the guilt of the former police officer.
With this, Chauvin was convicted of second-degree murder, which carries a sentence of up to 40 years in prison in Minnesota.
He was also convicted of third-degree murder, which carries a sentence of 25 years in prison, and second-degree manslaughter, which could add another 10 years behind bars.
A gathering in Times Square in New York after the verdict was announced (Anatolia)
The city of Minneapolis - the seat of the court - witnessed intense security measures in anticipation of demonstrations against the jury's decision if it was heading to acquit Chaufin.
Outside the court, a crowd of hundreds of people cheered as the verdict was announced, car horns and shouts of George Floyd's name sounded, and protesters in other cities - such as Washington and New York - turned out to welcome the court's decision.
The White House announced that Biden had contacted the Floyd family, expressing "satisfaction" with the ruling, and Biden describing the ruling as a "very rare" move.
Floyd died on May 25, 2020, in Minneapolis, while in custody, on suspicion that he had used a forged $ 20 note when paying, as the policeman pressed Chuvin on his neck. Which causes him to suffocate.