Is 3rd degree murder a lenient charge? Absolutely.

But please remember this, police kill approx. 900-1000 people a year. Only 35 officers have been convicted for fatal shootings since 2005.

Justice is NOT just, 3rd degree is WAY more likely to garner a conviction & jail time.

in 2005, I graduated from high school. I'm 33, that's how INFREQUENTLY police are held accountable for murdering civilians.

Quick primer on Minnesota Criminal Code--

Murder in the first degree requires premeditation.
In most states, premeditation can be formed in advance, or an instant, when actions, conduct, words, preparation prove that engagement, with the specific intent of taking their life.

In Minnesota, you get to 1st if you kill a class of person (on duty cop, child, judge), orspecific circumstances (pattern of repeated abuse, a rape, a robbery) As you can imagine, proving specific intent and premeditation is hard and many charges crumble under the weight.

Here, 1st is implausible. Chauvin has 18 complaints of misconduct and most are sealed. The facts as we know them don't currently indicate premeditation and we don't know enough about his previous misconduct to make a strong enough inference.

2nd degree is a lower threshold. Intent without premeditation, drive-by's are an example. A killing also rises to 2nd when a person kills out of an immediate emotional response (in law school they use the example of walking in on your wife in bed with another man.)

if evidence proves Chauvin put his knee in Floyd's neck, intending to cause asphyxiation, and/or based on an action that Floyd took that emotionally charged him, the current charge can be elevated to 2nd degree. Again, there's not enough evidence RIGHT NOW, to support that.

third degree is where we are, "causing the death of another by perpetrating an act eminently dangerous to others and evincing a depraved mind, without regard for human life". no intent or premeditation required.

You basically have to be reckless af, KNOWING that an action has the strong likelihood of causing death, and persisting anyway.

THIS CHARGE FITS RIGHT NOW.

The man said he couldn't breathe.
Chauvin acknowledged what he said.
Everyone knows from Eric Garner this hold can kill.

Chavin kept going, for no reason, as Floyd was cooperating. Floyd died.

Again, charges can be elevated with discovery, and knowing more when Chauvin's complaint file is unsealed by the department or judges.

He could also plead guilty to a lesser charge.
It's a waiting game.