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George Floyd killing: justice department says inquiry is a 'top priority' George Floyd killing: DoJ says inquiry a 'top priority' after thousands protest
(about 3 hours later)
FBI prosecutors and investigators assigned as part of ‘robust’ inquiry while protests followed George Floyd’s killing by police on MondayFBI prosecutors and investigators assigned as part of ‘robust’ inquiry while protests followed George Floyd’s killing by police on Monday
The US Department of Justice said on Thursday it had made its investigation into police involvement in the death of George Floyd a “top priority” after a second day of protests in Minneapolis over the man’s death. The US Department of Justice said it had made its investigation into police involvement in the death of George Floyd a “top priority” after thousands took to the streets for a second day of protests in Minneapolis.
Prosecutors and investigators from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had been assigned as part of a “robust” inquiry into whether the police officers involved had violated federal laws, the department said in a statement. Prosecutors and investigators from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have been assigned as part of a “robust” inquiry into whether the police officers involved had violated federal laws, the department said in a statement.
On Wednesday night a man was shot dead amid further protests over the death of Floyd, who was black and whose neck was knelt on by a white police officer for many minutes on Monday during his arrest, with demonstrators rocking parts of Minneapolis for a second night. Some demonstrators peacefully gathered for a second night at the site where Floyd, who was black, died on Monday, after a white police officer knelt on his neck for several minutes, despite Floyd’s cries of “I can’t breathe”.
Police said they were investigating Wednesday night’s shooting death as a homicide and had a suspect in custody, but were still investigating what led to the incident. However, conflict between protesters and police outside a nearby police station soon spiraled into chaos across south Minneapolis, with one man shot dead.
Philonese Floyd, the brother of George Floyd, 46, who was killed by police on Monday, appealed for peace on Thursday, adding through sobs: “Everybody has a lot of pain right now, that’s why this is happening. I’m tired of seeing black people dying.” Officers fired flash-bang grenades, rubber bullets and teargas into the crowd. Rocks and other projectiles were thrown at officers at times, the Star Tribune reported.
There was looting on Wednesday evening, even while most protests were focused on decrying the death of Floyd. Some large fires were alight on the streets that continued to burn on Thursday morning. Governor Tim Walz ordered the national guard to the site at around midnight, and St Paul police and the state patrol were also present. Police said they were investigating the shooting death as a homicide and had a suspect in custody.
As they did on Tuesday night, police fired rubber bullets and teargas to try to disperse crowds. Mayor Jacob Frey told a Star Tribune reporter at around midnight: “Please, please, Minneapolis. We cannot let tragedy beget more tragedy. The activity around Lake and Hiawatha is now unsafe. Please, help us keep the peace.”
Protesters began gathering in the early afternoon near Minneapolis’s 3rd police precinct station, in the southern part of the city where George Floyd died on the Memorial Day holiday after an officer knelt on his neck, even as the man said he could not breath and then became unresponsive, and members of the public begged the officer to stop. A Minneapolis police spokesman, John Elder, said at a press conference early on Thursday that the shooting death was believed to have occurred after a pawnshop owner had accused the victim of looting his business.
On Wednesday night, helicopter footage showed protesters milling in streets, with some running in and out of nearby stores. Officers could be seen surrounding the nearby precinct, not attempting to intervene in the looting. Philonese Floyd, the brother of George Floyd, also appealed for peace on Thursday, adding through sobs: “Everybody has a lot of pain right now, that’s why this is happening. I’m tired of seeing black people dying.”
Smoke hung over parts of the city early Thursday and fire crews worked to put out flames. There was looting on Wednesday evening, though most protests were focused on decrying the death of Floyd, 46. Some large fires were alight on the streets that continued to burn on Thursday morning.
Police spokesman John Elder said officers responding to a reported stabbing near the protests found a man lying on the sidewalk with what turned out to be a bullet wound. Crowds looted a nearby Target, which at one point was reported to be on fire. Looting spread into dozens of area businesses, including a US Bank. By 10pm, an AutoZone parts retailer had caught fire, followed by several more sites, including the construction site of an affordable housing apartment complex. 
The man was pronounced dead at a local hospital. Elder said a suspect was in custody but said the facts leading up to the shooting were “still being sorted out”. As they did on Tuesday night, police fired rubber bullets and teargas to try to disperse crowds. The response has been criticized as heavy handed, and city council members pleaded for the police presence to be decreased to try and de-escalate the scenes.
The violence flared after dark as the demonstrations continued to rage against the death of Floyd, who police were seeking to arrest outside a Minneapolis grocery store on a report of a counterfeit bill being passed. Council member Jeremiah Ellison tweeted: “If the strategy was to keep residents safe, it failed. Prevent property damage, it failed. Why are our officers firing at people from rooftops? Why is MPD [Minneapolis police department] not acting like they work for Minneapolis?”
A bystander’s cellphone video showed an officer kneeling on Floyd’s neck for almost eight minutes. The police chief, Medaria Arradondo, urged calm, saying in an interview with KMSP-TV that the investigations should be allowed to take their course. “Justice historically has never come to fruition through some of the acts we’re seeing tonight, whether it’s the looting, the damage to property or other things,” he said.
Mayor Jacob Frey tweeted for calm early Thursday. “Please, Minneapolis, we cannot let tragedy beget more tragedy,” he said on Twitter. He also asked for the public’s help in keeping the peace. Protesters began gathering in the early afternoon near Minneapolis’s 3rd police precinct station, in the southern part of the city.
The officer and three others were fired Tuesday, and on Wednesday, Frey called for him to be criminally charged. Video of the Floyd incident captured on a cellphone and released publicly showed members of the public begging the officer to stop.
Protesters also gathered Wednesday evening at the officer’s suburban home as well as the Minneapolis home of Mike Freeman, the Hennepin county prosecutor who would make a charging decision in the case. No violence was reported in those protests. The officers had arrested Floyd outside a grocery store after reported use of a counterfeit bill. Four police officers involved have been fired, but Mayor Frey and others have called for the officers to face charges for their actions.
As the protests stretched into the evening, police chief Medaria Arradondo urged calm. In an interview with KMSP-TV, he noted the internal investigation as well as the FBI’s investigation of Floyd’s death and said they offer a chance at justice. About 50 demonstrators gathered outside the home of the Hennepin county attorney, Mike Freeman, on Wednesday night, calling for him to charge the officers with murder, the Star Tribune reported.
“Justice historically has never come to fruition through some of the acts we’re seeing tonight, whether it’s the looting, the damage to property or other things,” he said. About 100 people also gathered at what is believed to be the home of Derek Chauvin, a 19-year veteran of the force who has been identified as the officer who pinned Floyd to the ground and kneeled on his neck.
In California, hundreds of people protesting Floyd’s death marched from downtown Los Angeles, where demonstrations began calmly, but later ended with some blocking a freeway and damaging some California Highway Patrol vehicles. Earlier on Wednesday, civil rights lawyer Ben Crump, who is representing Floyd’s family, issued a statement urging protesters to stay peaceful and socially distant.
“We cannot sink to the level of our oppressors, and we must not endanger others during this pandemic,” it read.
The civil rights activist Al Sharpton has announced he and Eric Garner’s mother, Gwen Carr, will co-lead a prayer vigil with local religious leaders on Thursday afternoon.
Eric Garner’s death in 2014 at the hands of a New York City police officer was one of several deadly encounters between black people and the police that catalyzed the national Black Lives Matter movement. Garner also gasped “I can’t breathe” as the officer held him in a chokehold shortly before he died.
In California, hundreds of people protesting against Floyd’s death marched on Wednesday from downtown Los Angeles, where demonstrations began calmly, but later ended with some blocking a freeway and damaging some California highway patrol vehicles.
Joanna Walters contributed to this report