Tensions between black citizens and police have risen palpably since last week’s killings of Alton Sterling in the Louisiana capital, Baton Rouge, and Philando Castile in Minnesota by white officers, and a retaliatory attack on white police by a black sniper in Dallas that killed five officers and wounded several others including two civilians.
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According to a BCA release, Officer Yanez and Officer Joseph Kauser conducted a traffic stop about 9:17 p.m. Wednesday near the intersection of Larpenteur Avenue West and Fry Street in Falcon Heights.
In the aftermath of the fatal shooting of Philando Castile during a traffic stop, the National Rifle Association voiced its support on July 8 for those who legally carry guns.
Choi declined to provide details about Castile’s death or what led up to it, including why Castile was pulled over or why the officer drew his gun.
Castile was killed by police during a traffic stop on Wednesday, and his girlfriend posted live video on the internet of the bloody scene minutes afterward.
I watched the videos, and was appalled and completely heartbroken.
Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton, in an extraordinary rebuke of police, said flatly that he believed the handling of the traffic stop was based on Castile’s race.
Dobratz said while he doesn’t remember exactly what he taught Yanez and Kauser specifically, he said they did teach students what to do in a situation where a driver has a permit to carry. “I don’t think it would have”, Dayton said to a crowd gathered outside his residence Thursday. Castile’s death is reportedly the first officer-related shooting in the St. Anthony Police Department in 30 years.
On Friday, Dayton said he stood by his statements but that he had no new information about the case.
Yang did not tell Castile he pulled him over because his wide-set nose, instead telling him it was because he had a broken tail light.
Castile’s fiancée Diamond Reynolds live-streamed the aftermath of the shooting via Facebook.
“I guess I wasn’t moving fast enough for him”, said Martin, who estimated the officer was six feet away and sprayed without warning.
“You told him to get his ID, sir, and his drivers license”, Reynolds responded.
Yanez opened fire in reaction to “the presence of the gun and the display of that gun” inside the vehicle after the officer approached Castile, said lawyer Thomas Kelly. Both were put on administrative leave, as is standard.
The police officer who reportedly shot Castile while he sat in the driver’s side seat of his auto has been publicly identified, according to CNN. She said that Yanez shot Castile after he reached for his identification.
The bureau did not give the officers’ races.
Mr Castile’s girlfriend claims he was reaching for his licence and registration when he was shot.
Both officers have been with the St. Anthony Police Department for four years. A year earlier, a photograph showed him standing guard at a fallen-officers memorial.
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An attorney for Castile’s family, Larry Rogers, didn’t immediately return a call seeking comment on Kelly’s remarks.
