Video Footage Shows Minnesota Police Stop That Resulted In Philando Castile’s Death

According to a video released to the public on Tuesday, June 20, the Minnesota police officer who shot and killed Philando Castile last year was seen firing multiple rounds within seconds—this all happened during a routine traffic stop.  It is reported that when this traffic stop began, the police officer and Castile conversed calmly.  The police officer, Jeronimo Yanez, was on duty in the Twin Cities suburbs when he met Castile and examined his information.

Castile, almost a minute into his conversation with Yanez, said, “Sir, I have to tell you that I do have a firearm on me.”  Yanez then interrupted, “Okay,” as he moved his right hand to the holster of his gun.

As Yanez told Castile to not reach for the gun or pull it out, Castile thus responded that he was not.  Diamond Reynolds, Castile’s girlfriend, also repeated that he was not reaching for the gun.

Castile voiced, “I’m not pulling it out,” to which Yanez yelled, “Don’t pull it out!”, drawing his gun and shoving it into the car.  “Don’t pull it out!” Yanez repeated, as Castile recited one last time, “I’m not!”—Yanez then began firing into the car seven seconds after being informed of the present firearm in Philando Castile’s car.

This incident made its way throughout social media around the world as Reynolds began filming the event, streaming live on Facebook.  Reynolds can be heard pleading with Castile to “stay with me”, only for Castile to die moments later.  This video depicting such violence inflicted by Yanez brought up long debates in this country regarding police brutality.

            It is reported that, “A jury acquitted Yanez of manslaughter last week, a decision that set off protests in the St. Paul area.  The same day, St. Anthony officials said Yanez would not be returning to their police department.  Yanez also was acquitted on two felony charges of endangering Reynolds—who was sitting in the passenger seat—and her 4-year-old daughter, who was sitting behind her in a car seat.”

Castile was among 963 others killed by police firearms in 2016, showing that the issue of police violence has become a major problem in America.  Diamond Reynolds’ footage, while pushing the topic towards multiple headlines, was not the only recording captured that night.  The police dashboard camera also filmed the incident, but only released as of Tuesday afternoon.

Attorney Larry R. Rogers states that, “Based upon the release of the dashcam video [on Tuesday], it is clear that Officer Jeronimo Yanez was not in control, was nervous and acted in a reckless, willful and wanton fashion.  We are exploring our next steps in light of the compelling evidence of Officer Yanez’s wrongdoing that led to this tragedy.”

Featured Image via Wikimedia Commons