Minnesota Cop Who Shot Philando Castile Charged With Manslaughter
Philando Castille’s death was live streamed for millions as his girlfriend, Diamond Reynolds, sat next to him in a car after he was shot by a police officer in Minnesota. It was easily one of the most visible instances of police violence to date.
St. Anthony police officer Jeronimo Yanez, who shot Castille on July 6, has been charged with second-degree manslaughter and two felony counts of dangerous discharge.
He could face up to 10 years in prison, reports the New York Daily News. Yanez is scheduled to appear in court this Friday.
“No reasonable officer — knowing, seeing and hearing what Officer Yanez did at the time — would have used deadly force under these circumstances,” the Ramsey County attorney, John J. Choi, according to the New York Times.
Choi offered new information on the case going on record to confirm that Castile informed the officer that he was armed.
“Castile tried to respond, but was interrupted by Officer Yanez, who said, ‘Don’t pull it out,’” Choi said as he announced the charges. “Castile responded, ‘I’m not pulling it out.’”
“His dying words were in protest that he wasn’t reaching for his gun.”
Castile’s shooting lead to investigations into his specific interactions with the police, which showed that he had been pulled over 50 times in the past 14 years, and the police department overall.
The trial of his murder will surely lead to more information.