Police did not identify the man who was shot, but Nekima Levy-Pounds, president of the Minneapolis NAACP, said in a statement that he was Jamar Clark, a black man in his mid-20s, and that he had been “shot and killed” by police.
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The shooting occurred at about 12:45 a.m. on Sunday, after police answered a call to north Minneapolis for a reported assault.
Police Chief Harteau said the department has spoken with the family of the man who was shot and has reached out to many community leaders. During the struggle, an officer discharged his weapon, striking the suspect, according to Minneapolis Police.
Two officers are on paid leave, standard practice after such an incident.
“That man was shot in cold blood while he had his hands behind his back”. He was shot during a physical struggle, police said.
A march of solidarity with the victim began on the corner of James Avenue North and Plymouth Avenue North at 3 p.m. Police said the man is being treated at a hospital, but his condition hasn’t been released.
“Every witness account I heard said he was handcuffed”.
Clark’s relatives, including several sisters, gathered in a room on the seventh floor intensive-care unit at Hennepin County Medical Center Sunday afternoon where a physician told them that Clark is brain dead, according to one family member.
The Violent Crime Investigations Team, which will be staffed by six veteran detectives, was unveiled at a City Hall news conference. “We want justice immediately”, Sole said.
“What a sad day this is, what a sad moment in time this is, when an officer can shoot a man who is handcuffed at point-blank range”, Raeisha Williams, spokeswoman with Minneapolis NAACP, said.
A video posted on Facebook showed a police officer leaning over the man. Bystanders can also be heard taunting police. A FOX 9 News report says the call “had become a “HELP” call” while they were en route. “That’s not right”, Kiesha Steele said.
The mayor and police chief of Minneapolis have held a community meeting to address concerns about a police shooting that has prompted protests. There will be an independent and thorough investigation by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
“We don’t know the timeline of that investigation, but it will be as expeditious as possible and the investigators will follow the facts wherever they lead”, Hodges said at a news conference.
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Harteau urged anyone with information or video of the incident to call agents with the BCA at 651-793-7000. “Everyone involved needs that and deserves that”.
