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Minnesota Police Shooting’s Aftermath Is Captured in Gruesome Video Minnesota Police Shooting’s Aftermath Is Captured in Gruesome Video
(about 3 hours later)
A Minnesota man was fatally shot Wednesday night by the police during a traffic stop in a St. Paul suburb, and the aftermath was captured in a grisly video recorded by the car’s front-seat passenger and streamed live.A Minnesota man was fatally shot Wednesday night by the police during a traffic stop in a St. Paul suburb, and the aftermath was captured in a grisly video recorded by the car’s front-seat passenger and streamed live.
It was at least the second shooting this week of a black man by police officers, and parts of both encounters were recorded on video. It was the second shooting this week of a black man by police officers, and parts of both encounters were recorded on video.
The Minnesota video, which begins after the shooting itself, shows the man slumped bloody against the woman who was recording it. Her young daughter sat in the back seat. As the Minnesota video circulated widely on social media, protesters gathered outside the governor’s mansion in St. Paul early Thursday demanding accountability for the police officers involved.
The footage was extraordinary in that the woman begins by calmly narrating what was happening as she trained the camera on the man, whom she described as her boyfriend, and on at least one officer who was pointing a gun through the driver’s side window. The video begins after the shooting occurred and shows the man slumped, bloody, against the woman who was recording it. Her young daughter sat in the back seat.
The footage was extraordinary in that the woman began by calmly narrating what was happening as she trained the camera on the man, whom she described as her boyfriend, and on at least one officer who was pointing a gun through the driver’s side window.
“Please, officer, don’t tell me that you just did this to him,” she said. “You shot four bullets into him, sir. He was just getting his license and registration, sir.”“Please, officer, don’t tell me that you just did this to him,” she said. “You shot four bullets into him, sir. He was just getting his license and registration, sir.”
The woman’s daughter, who was in the back seat, appears several times in the video. Near the end of the 10-minute clip, as the two are sitting in the back of a police car, she comforts her mother, saying, “It’s O.K., Mommy. It’s O.K. I’m right here with you.”The woman’s daughter, who was in the back seat, appears several times in the video. Near the end of the 10-minute clip, as the two are sitting in the back of a police car, she comforts her mother, saying, “It’s O.K., Mommy. It’s O.K. I’m right here with you.”
The video streamed live on a private Facebook account belonging to Lavish Reynolds, and the clip passed rapidly among Twitter, Facebook and YouTube users, becoming significant news online before traditional outlets — even those in the Minneapolis area — caught up.The video streamed live on a private Facebook account belonging to Lavish Reynolds, and the clip passed rapidly among Twitter, Facebook and YouTube users, becoming significant news online before traditional outlets — even those in the Minneapolis area — caught up.
The police confirmed the shooting but did not release the names of the man or the officers involved. The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported that the man killed was Philando Castile, a 32-year-old cafeteria supervisor at a Montessori school in St. Paul.The police confirmed the shooting but did not release the names of the man or the officers involved. The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported that the man killed was Philando Castile, a 32-year-old cafeteria supervisor at a Montessori school in St. Paul.
Family members demanded justice for Mr. Castile during an interview on CNN early Thursday.
Mr. Castile’s uncle, Clarence Castile, said police officers who were meant to protect Americans had instead become “our executioners and judges and murderers.”
When he watched the video, he said, “I saw a young man, shot, helpless — shot for no apparent reason. I saw my nephew shot by a man, clinging to his life with no help. It was the most horrific thing I have ever seen in my life.”
Mr. Castile’s mother, Valerie Castile, said she had taught her son to be extremely cautious when encountering members of law enforcement. “If you get stopped by the police, comply,” Ms. Castile said. “Comply, comply, comply.”
“My son was a law-abiding citizen and he did nothing wrong,” she said. “He’s no thug.”
She added, “I think he was just black in the wrong place.”
The shooting occurred around 9 p.m. in Falcon Heights, a town of about 5,500 north of St. Paul, when an officer with the St. Anthony Police Department — which is contracted to handle law enforcement in Falcon Heights — pulled over a car driven by the man who was shot.The shooting occurred around 9 p.m. in Falcon Heights, a town of about 5,500 north of St. Paul, when an officer with the St. Anthony Police Department — which is contracted to handle law enforcement in Falcon Heights — pulled over a car driven by the man who was shot.
The officer involved has been put on leave, said Jon Mangseth, the interim chief of the St. Anthony police. The officer involved has been put on leave, and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has been called to investigate, said Jon Mangseth, the interim chief of the St. Anthony police.
In the video, the woman explains that after being pulled over for a broken taillight, her boyfriend was shot several times while reaching for his license. She says that her boyfriend had told officers before the shooting that he had a gun in the car. In the video, the woman explains that, after being pulled over for a broken taillight, her boyfriend was shot several times while reaching for his license. She says that her boyfriend had told officers before the shooting that he had a gun in the car.
In the background, one of the officers can be heard shouting: “I told him not to reach for it. I told him to get his hands up.”In the background, one of the officers can be heard shouting: “I told him not to reach for it. I told him to get his hands up.”
The video begins with a shot of the victim, who appears to be moaning and moving slightly, his left arm and left side bloody. The woman then pans the camera to her face and says matter-of-factly, “They killed my boyfriend.” The video begins with a shot of the man, who appears to be moaning and moving slightly, his left arm and left side bloody. The woman then pans the camera to her face and says matter-of-factly, “They killed my boyfriend.”
Looking into the camera, she says that the victim had told officers that he was carrying a weapon — she says he was licensed to do so — and that he was reaching for his wallet when he was shot. Looking into the camera, she says that the man had told officers that he was carrying a weapon — she says he was licensed to do so — and that he was reaching for his wallet when he was shot.
“And the officer just shot him in the arm,” she says, adding, “He just shot his arm off.”“And the officer just shot him in the arm,” she says, adding, “He just shot his arm off.”
When the officer tells the woman to keep her hands on the wheel, she replies: “I will, sir. No worries. I will.”When the officer tells the woman to keep her hands on the wheel, she replies: “I will, sir. No worries. I will.”
Moments later, her voice shaking, the woman says: “Oh my God, please don’t tell me he’s gone. Please don’t tell me my boyfriend just went like that.” Moments later, her voice shaking, the woman says: “Oh, my God, please don’t tell me he’s gone. Please don’t tell me my boyfriend just went like that.”
Then: “Please, Jesus, don’t tell me that he’s gone. Please, Officer, don’t tell me that you just did this to him.”Then: “Please, Jesus, don’t tell me that he’s gone. Please, Officer, don’t tell me that you just did this to him.”
An officer issues an order “to get the female passenger out.”An officer issues an order “to get the female passenger out.”
“Exit now,” she is told, “and keep them up.” She asks for her daughter.“Exit now,” she is told, “and keep them up.” She asks for her daughter.
The video was briefly removed from Facebook but was later restored with a graphic warning attached.The video was briefly removed from Facebook but was later restored with a graphic warning attached.
At one point, the video goes dark as the woman moves from the car to a police vehicle, although it continues to capture an audio feed as the woman prays for the man’s life.At one point, the video goes dark as the woman moves from the car to a police vehicle, although it continues to capture an audio feed as the woman prays for the man’s life.
Chief Mangseth said the woman had been taken to the police department to be interviewed.
The Falcon Heights shooting occurred the same day that the Justice Department opened a civil rights investigation into the fatal shooting on Tuesday of a black man by the Baton Rouge, La., police.The Falcon Heights shooting occurred the same day that the Justice Department opened a civil rights investigation into the fatal shooting on Tuesday of a black man by the Baton Rouge, La., police.
As in the Minnesota case, the encounter was captured in a searing video that was aired repeatedly on television and social media and reignited contentious issues surrounding police killings of African-Americans.As in the Minnesota case, the encounter was captured in a searing video that was aired repeatedly on television and social media and reignited contentious issues surrounding police killings of African-Americans.
The man shot in Louisiana, Alton B. Sterling, 37, was killed early Tuesday as two white police officers responded to a call about an armed man. The officers had Mr. Sterling pinned to the ground when at least one of them shot him.The man shot in Louisiana, Alton B. Sterling, 37, was killed early Tuesday as two white police officers responded to a call about an armed man. The officers had Mr. Sterling pinned to the ground when at least one of them shot him.
The video of the shooting propelled the case to national attention, like a string of recorded police shootings before it. The shooting has prompted protests in Baton Rouge, the capital of Louisiana, and a prayer vigil on Wednesday.The video of the shooting propelled the case to national attention, like a string of recorded police shootings before it. The shooting has prompted protests in Baton Rouge, the capital of Louisiana, and a prayer vigil on Wednesday.
Officials identified the officers as Blane Salamoni and Howie Lake II. Both were placed on administrative leave.Officials identified the officers as Blane Salamoni and Howie Lake II. Both were placed on administrative leave.
After the Minnesota shooting, the terms #FalconHeightsShooting and #PhilandoCastile were trending on Twitter as news of the encounter spread.After the Minnesota shooting, the terms #FalconHeightsShooting and #PhilandoCastile were trending on Twitter as news of the encounter spread.
By early Thursday, scores of protesters had streamed to the governor’s mansion in St. Paul, demanding action from Gov. Mark Dayton. Videos posted on Twitter showed people shouting “Wake up” and “No justice, no peace; prosecute the police.”
It was unclear whether Mr. Dayton was inside the residence. A message left with the governor’s spokesman was not immediately returned.
Steve Linders, a spokesman for the St. Paul police, said the crowd had dwindled to about 20 or so protesters by shortly after sunrise.