×

Release of video shocks, angers many anew

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota police officer who pulled over Philando Castile politely told the black driver that his brake lights were out and calmly instructed him not to pull out his handgun before suddenly drawing his own weapon and firing seven rounds into the car, a video showed.

The dashboard camera footage taken from St. Anthony police officer Jeronimo Yanez’s squad car illustrated how a simple traffic stop shifted in an instant from a routine exchange to a deadly confrontation.

When Yanez opened fire, another officer near the car jumped back, and Yanez began yelling at the driver. As more police and an ambulance arrived, Yanez could be heard breathing heavily and swearing and trying to explain his actions to fellow officers.

The video was made public Tuesday, just days after the officer was acquitted on all counts in the case. Although the squad-car footage was described repeatedly and was shown to jurors in the courtroom, it had never been released publicly.

The shooting on July 6, 2016, in the St. Paul suburb of Falcon Heights gained widespread attention because Castile’s girlfriend, Diamond Reynolds, livestreamed its gruesome aftermath on Facebook. Unlike Reynolds’ video, the squad-car video shows the situation’s quick escalation and the shooting itself.

The 29-year-old Yanez, who was found not guilty of manslaughter and other charges, began firing only seconds after Castile told the officer he had a gun.

“Sir, I have to tell you, I do have a firearm on me,” Castile said.

Before Castile finished that sentence, Yanez began pulling his weapon out of the holster. Yanez said, “OK. Don’t reach for it then.” There is shouting, and Yanez screamed “Don’t pull it out!” before firing into the car.

Castile, a 32-year-old elementary school cafeteria worker, had a permit to carry the weapon.

The release of the video made some people even angrier about the death.

Steven Belton, the black president and CEO of the Minneapolis Urban League, said the video showed “a 21st century lynching” and was “powerfully painful.” He said it’s a reminder of black men “hanging from trees, black men being shot, beaten, stabbed for being black.”

He said Castile was “gunned down like a rabid animal.”

Bekuh Sibet, a 29-year-old waitress from nearby Richfield, said it was obvious to her from the video that Castile was complying.

“I feel like it’s 10 times worse now,” said Sibet, who is white.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

COMMENTS

[vivafbcomment]

Starting at $4.65/week.

Subscribe Today