After days of peaceful protests, St. Paul police officers in riot gear met protesters who blocked Interstate 94 late Saturday in the biggest confrontation between police and demonstrators since an officer fatally shot a black man during a Falcon Heights traffic stop last week.
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Breitbart Texas spoke with the attorney of the Minnesota police officer, Officer Jeronimo Yanez, who said he is unable to say more until an investigation into the shooting is concluded.
She said that Castile had told the officer he was licensed to carry a gun, and the officer shot as Castile was reaching for his wallet to present ID.
A leader on a loudspeaker urged the group to march to the governor’s mansion, where protesters have gathered since the fatal police shooting on Wednesday of Philando Castile in suburban St. Paul.
“This is a tragic incident brought about by the officer having to react to the actions taken by Mr. Castile”, Minneapolis attorney Thomas Kelly said Saturday. At one point during the interaction, Officer Yanez discharged his weapon striking Castile multiple times.
A press release from the St. Anthony Village Police Department confirms that an officer-involved shooting took place at the intersection of Larpenteur and Fry on July 6, the day Castile was killed.
There was already little doubt that Castile’s death was completely unwarranted, but the lengthy rap sheet for minor traffic violations will surely raise questions over whether police in Minnesota are targeting the Black community.
Castile had dreadlocks and a goatee, which are visible in the video his girlfriend streamed on Facebook Live in the immediate aftermath of the shooting.
Choi said his office has not yet met with Castile’s family, saying it wouldn’t be appropriate until investigators completed their work.
Philando Castile was shot by police during a routine traffic stop.
“I want to express the deep anguish all of us feel for the heroic Dallas law enforcement officers who were killed and wounded, as well as to those who so bravely ran toward danger to defend the city and the people of Dallas”, LaPierre’s statement read.
Kauser (left), who is married, has served with the St Anthony Police Department for four years.
Mike Martin, who wore a guitar on his back and said he was trying to promote peace, was pepper sprayed by a police officer on a pedestrian bridge overlooking the interstate. Hours earlier, some of Castile’s relatives, including a sister who said she considered him a father figure, addressed the protesters and spoke of their grief.
“Officer Yanez approached the vehicle from the driver’s side and Officer Kauser from the passenger side. They are tried in the court of public opinion, and unless those victims are choir boys, immaculate, squeaky clean victims, then we start to blame them”, Armour said. Johnson told police he was upset by recent police shootings and “wanted to kill White people”, authorities said. Dayton later said he stood by his statement, even though he angered some in law enforcement.
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Reynolds said that she was able to remain so calm during the incident because she truly didn’t have any other choice.
