Watch Again: George Floyd Public Viewing In Houston

HOUSTON, TX — The public viewing for George Floyd, the man who died with a police officer's knee on his neck on Memorial Day and whose killing has prompted mass protests against police brutality and racism across the U.S. and globally, was held in Houston Monday.

The public was asked to pay their respects on Monday as Tuesday's memorial service is limited to 500 people due to social distancing guidelines and those in attendance will include Floyd's family and close friends.

The details for Monday's viewing are below:

Houston, Texas, Public Viewing:
Date: Monday, June 8
Time: 12 - 6 p.m. central time
Where: Fountain of Praise
13950 Hillcroft Avenue, Houston, TX 77085

Floyd, a Houston native, moved to Minnesota several years ago in hopes of finding work and a new life, according to Christopher Harris, Floyd's lifelong friend. Floyd, 46, grew up in Houston's Third Ward, one of the city's predominantly black neighborhoods, where he and Harris met in middle school. At 6 feet, 6 inches, Floyd emerged as a star tight end for Jack Yates High School and played in the 1992 state championship game in the Houston Astrodome. Yates lost to Temple, 38-20.

Donnell Cooper, one of Floyd's former classmates, said he remembered watching Floyd score touchdowns. Floyd towered over everyone and earned the nickname "gentle giant."

"Quiet personality but a beautiful spirit," Cooper said. His death "definitely caught me by surprise. It's just so sad, the world we're living in now."

Also on Monday, Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer who kneeled on Floyd's neck for nearly nine mimuntes, will make his first court appearance. He is charged with second-degree murder, third-degree manslaughter and third-degree murder. Chauvin is being held on $1 million bail at a Minnesota state prison.

The other three former cops involved in the arrest — Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao — are being held on $750,000 bail.

Reporting and writing from The Associated Press was used in this story.