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| Philando Castile police killing prompts calls for yet another federal inquiry | Philando Castile police killing prompts calls for yet another federal inquiry |
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| The Obama administration said on Thursday it was ready to investigate yet another fatal shooting of a black man by a police officer, after a deadly encounter was captured on extraordinary cellphone video footage for the second time this week. | The Obama administration said on Thursday it was ready to investigate yet another fatal shooting of a black man by a police officer, after a deadly encounter was captured on extraordinary cellphone video footage for the second time this week. |
| Related: The Counted: people killed by police in the United States – interactive | Related: The Counted: people killed by police in the United States – interactive |
| Philando Castile’s death was broadcast live on Facebook by his girlfriend after he was shot by an officer in Minnesota through the window of their car. Castile was reaching for identification after warning the officer he was legally carrying a handgun, his girlfriend said. | Philando Castile’s death was broadcast live on Facebook by his girlfriend after he was shot by an officer in Minnesota through the window of their car. Castile was reaching for identification after warning the officer he was legally carrying a handgun, his girlfriend said. |
| Castile, a 32-year-old school cafeteria worker, was killed as protests continued in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where Alton Sterling was shot dead during a struggle with two officers on Tuesday. Sterling, who was selling CDs outside a shop, appeared to have a pistol in his pocket during the scuffle. | Castile, a 32-year-old school cafeteria worker, was killed as protests continued in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where Alton Sterling was shot dead during a struggle with two officers on Tuesday. Sterling, who was selling CDs outside a shop, appeared to have a pistol in his pocket during the scuffle. |
| Barack Obama said Americans “should be deeply troubled” by the two shootings, as he suggested it was necessary to “admit we’ve got a serious problem” with racial bias or its appearance among some police officers. “We’ve seen such tragedies far too many times,” Obama said of the Sterling and Castile killings, in a Facebook post. | Barack Obama said Americans “should be deeply troubled” by the two shootings, as he suggested it was necessary to “admit we’ve got a serious problem” with racial bias or its appearance among some police officers. “We’ve seen such tragedies far too many times,” Obama said of the Sterling and Castile killings, in a Facebook post. |
| The men were the 135th and 136th African Americans to be killed by police across the US in 2016, according to an ongoing Guardian project to document every death caused by law enforcement officers. In total 561 people have been killed so far this year. | The men were the 135th and 136th African Americans to be killed by police across the US in 2016, according to an ongoing Guardian project to document every death caused by law enforcement officers. In total 561 people have been killed so far this year. |
| Castile’s mother, Valerie, said she was outraged by his death. “Every day you hear of another black person being shot down – gunned down – by the people who are supposed to protect us,” she told CNN. | Castile’s mother, Valerie, said she was outraged by his death. “Every day you hear of another black person being shot down – gunned down – by the people who are supposed to protect us,” she told CNN. |
| Minnesota governor Mark Dayton promptly asked the US Department of Justice to investigate Castile’s shooting after protesters gathered outside his mansion overnight and wrapped his gates in crime-scene tape. The department is already reviewing the death of Sterling, 37. | Minnesota governor Mark Dayton promptly asked the US Department of Justice to investigate Castile’s shooting after protesters gathered outside his mansion overnight and wrapped his gates in crime-scene tape. The department is already reviewing the death of Sterling, 37. |
| “I will do everything in my power to help protect the integrity of that investigation, to ensure a proper and just outcome for all involved,” Dayton said in a statement. | “I will do everything in my power to help protect the integrity of that investigation, to ensure a proper and just outcome for all involved,” Dayton said in a statement. |
| A Department of Justice spokesman said in an email that the department “stands ready to provide assistance” to Minnesota authorities in investigating the shooting if required “and will independently assess what further action may be warranted”. Officials said on Wednesday that they would open a federal civil rights investigation into Sterling’s death in Louisiana. | A Department of Justice spokesman said in an email that the department “stands ready to provide assistance” to Minnesota authorities in investigating the shooting if required “and will independently assess what further action may be warranted”. Officials said on Wednesday that they would open a federal civil rights investigation into Sterling’s death in Louisiana. |
| FBI director James Comey also said on Thursday that the shootings were a cause for concern. Asked in a congressional hearing whether killings such as those of Castile and Sterling were “happening at an alarming rate”, Comey replied: “‘Yes’ is the emphatic answer.” | FBI director James Comey also said on Thursday that the shootings were a cause for concern. Asked in a congressional hearing whether killings such as those of Castile and Sterling were “happening at an alarming rate”, Comey replied: “‘Yes’ is the emphatic answer.” |
| Comey had previously stood out within the Obama administration by focusing on concerns that protests against police shootings may be causing a rise in crime by prompting officers to hold back from confrontations. | Comey had previously stood out within the Obama administration by focusing on concerns that protests against police shootings may be causing a rise in crime by prompting officers to hold back from confrontations. |
| Castile and his girlfriend, Diamond Reynolds, were pulled over at about 9pm on Wednesday because their car had a broken tail light, according to Reynolds. Quickly starting to film and broadcast to Facebook’s live video feature, Reynolds said to camera that the officer had just opened fire as Castile reached into his pocket. | Castile and his girlfriend, Diamond Reynolds, were pulled over at about 9pm on Wednesday because their car had a broken tail light, according to Reynolds. Quickly starting to film and broadcast to Facebook’s live video feature, Reynolds said to camera that the officer had just opened fire as Castile reached into his pocket. |
| “He was trying to get out his ID and his wallet out his pocket and he let the officer know that he was that he had a firearm,” she says in the video. “He was reaching for his wallet and the officer just shot him in his arm.” Reynolds estimated that the officer fired between three and five times. | “He was trying to get out his ID and his wallet out his pocket and he let the officer know that he was that he had a firearm,” she says in the video. “He was reaching for his wallet and the officer just shot him in his arm.” Reynolds estimated that the officer fired between three and five times. |
| Castile is seen slumped in a front seat covered in blood. He squirms with his eyes half-open. Reynolds says to camera: “Please don’t tell me that he’s gone. Please officer, don’t tell me that you just did this to him.” | |
| As other officers arrive, Reynolds is instructed to leave the vehicle. The phone continues to film as it is laid on the ground. | As other officers arrive, Reynolds is instructed to leave the vehicle. The phone continues to film as it is laid on the ground. |
| One distraught-sounding officer, who has not been identified, can be heard shouting “Fuck” repeatedly. After Reynolds is detained, her four-year-old daughter can be heard comforting her. “It’s OK mommy,” she says. | One distraught-sounding officer, who has not been identified, can be heard shouting “Fuck” repeatedly. After Reynolds is detained, her four-year-old daughter can be heard comforting her. “It’s OK mommy,” she says. |
| The deaths of Sterling and Castile have revived protests about the treatment by officers of black people who appear to be carrying firearms legally or non-threateningly, as millions of Americans do every day without incident. | The deaths of Sterling and Castile have revived protests about the treatment by officers of black people who appear to be carrying firearms legally or non-threateningly, as millions of Americans do every day without incident. |
| Castile’s mother said her son was “trying to do the right things, and live accordingly by the law”. Minnesotans are entitled to carry a handgun if they obtain a permit from their local sheriff after earning a training certificate. Reynolds said Castile was licensed to carry his gun. | Castile’s mother said her son was “trying to do the right things, and live accordingly by the law”. Minnesotans are entitled to carry a handgun if they obtain a permit from their local sheriff after earning a training certificate. Reynolds said Castile was licensed to carry his gun. |
| The officer who shot Castile works for the small St Anthony police department, whose chief John Ohl said in his 2015 annual report that outsiders “can easily overlook just how difficult it can be to deal humanely, as cops must, even with the dregs of our society.” The report suggested St Anthony’s 23 officers each received an average of 67 hours of training last year, including on de-escalation, the use of force, and firearms. | The officer who shot Castile works for the small St Anthony police department, whose chief John Ohl said in his 2015 annual report that outsiders “can easily overlook just how difficult it can be to deal humanely, as cops must, even with the dregs of our society.” The report suggested St Anthony’s 23 officers each received an average of 67 hours of training last year, including on de-escalation, the use of force, and firearms. |
| In the Baton Rouge case, police confronted Sterling because he matched the description of a man reported to have threatened someone with a gun. Two video clips of his struggle with police indicate, however, that his pistol remained in his pocket and was removed by officers after he was shot. It was unclear from the footage whether Sterling tried to reach for the weapon. | In the Baton Rouge case, police confronted Sterling because he matched the description of a man reported to have threatened someone with a gun. Two video clips of his struggle with police indicate, however, that his pistol remained in his pocket and was removed by officers after he was shot. It was unclear from the footage whether Sterling tried to reach for the weapon. |
| The cases joined a series of flashpoints in recent years including those of Tamir Rice and John Crawford, two young African Americans who were separately shot dead by police in Ohio in 2014 while handling pellet guns in a park and a Walmart store respectively. In both cases, officers fired within seconds of seeing them. | The cases joined a series of flashpoints in recent years including those of Tamir Rice and John Crawford, two young African Americans who were separately shot dead by police in Ohio in 2014 while handling pellet guns in a park and a Walmart store respectively. In both cases, officers fired within seconds of seeing them. |
| Campaigners said African Americans were treated unfairly to deadly effect. “No matter how well you follow the rules, you can still be dead because you’re black,” said Brittany Packnett, an activist and former member of Obama’s White House policing taskforce. “Compliance has never guaranteed our safety.” | Campaigners said African Americans were treated unfairly to deadly effect. “No matter how well you follow the rules, you can still be dead because you’re black,” said Brittany Packnett, an activist and former member of Obama’s White House policing taskforce. “Compliance has never guaranteed our safety.” |
| Gun rights advocates who are typically forthright in defending firearms owners have been criticised for failing to speak out in support of black people targeted while armed. Asked about the Castile shooting, Jennifer Baker, the National Rifle Association’s director of public affairs, said only on Thursday: “We have not issued a statement.” | Gun rights advocates who are typically forthright in defending firearms owners have been criticised for failing to speak out in support of black people targeted while armed. Asked about the Castile shooting, Jennifer Baker, the National Rifle Association’s director of public affairs, said only on Thursday: “We have not issued a statement.” |
| Larry Pratt, the executive director emeritus of Gun Owners of America, bristled at the suggestion that race made a difference. “We don’t speak out for black American nor white America or any other kinds of racial position. That is an obnoxious question. Keep asking questions like that and you’re going to get hung up on, like right now,” he said, then disconnected the line. | Larry Pratt, the executive director emeritus of Gun Owners of America, bristled at the suggestion that race made a difference. “We don’t speak out for black American nor white America or any other kinds of racial position. That is an obnoxious question. Keep asking questions like that and you’re going to get hung up on, like right now,” he said, then disconnected the line. |