Cebu_4_2
16th November 2016, 12:00 PM
Police officer charged with manslaughter in Philando Castile shooting
http://youtu.be/NrjngYGolO8
https://youtu.be/NrjngYGolO8
Posted:Nov 16 2016 09:09AM CST
Updated:Nov 16 2016 01:23PM CST
ST. PAUL, Minn. (KMSP) - Ramsey County Attorney John Choi has charged St. Anthony Police Officer Jeronimo Yanez with second-degree manslaughter in the July 6 shooting death of Philando Castile. Choi concluded the use of deadly force was not justified.
“Based upon our thorough and exhaustive review of the facts, I have come to the conclusion that there simply was no justification for the use of deadly force by Officer Yanez in this case," said Ramsey County Attorney John Choi. "No reasonable officer who knew, saw, and heard what Officer Yanez did at the time would have used deadly force under these circumstances.”
“I ask for the public’s continued patience, trust and respect for the integrity of the process as we prosecute this case and seek justice for Philando Castile, his family and friends, including Diamond Reynolds and her daughter, and our broader community.” Choi said.
The shooting
Philando Castile, 32, was shot and killed by St. Anthony Police Officer Jeronimo Yanez during a traffic stop in Falcon Heights on July 6. The aftermath of the fatal shooting was broadcast on Facebook Live by his girlfriend, Diamond Reynolds, who was a passenger in Castile’s vehicle. In the video stream, Reynolds says they were pulled over for a broken tail light.
She says Castile let Officer Yanez know he had a permit to carry a firearm, and that he was reaching for his ID and wallet when he was shot. According to the criminal complaint, a valid driver's license and valid permit to carry a firearm (http://www.fox9.com/news/173548963-story) was recovered from Castile by investigators at the scene.
7 shots fired
Prosecutors emphasized that 7 shots fired into the vehicle, in close proximity of Reynolds and her child. Jeffery Noble, an expert on police procedure consulted by the prosecutor, said the use of deadly force was “objectively unreasonable and was inconsistent with generally accepted police practices.”
Friday court appearance
Officer Yanez will make his first court appearance Friday. Yanez was charged with second-degree manslaughter because it’s the highest level charge prosecutors feel they can convict on. Choi asked for public's continued trust, adding that Officer Yanez is innocent until proven guilty.
In Minnesota, second-degree manslaughter carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years.
The charges
Second-degree manslaughter - culpable negligence creating unreasonable risk, for the shooting of Philando Castile.
Dangerous weapons - Intentional discharge of firearm that endangers safety, for the firing of his gun near Diamond Reynolds.
Dangerous weapons - Intentional discharge of firearm that endangers safety, for the firing of his gun near Reynolds’ 4-year-old daughter.
Prosecutor: Don't blame Castile
To those who blame Philando Castile for the deadly outcome, Choi said, “don't," emphasizing that no other reasonable police officer in a similar situation would have used deadly force.
Why Yanez stopped Castile
According to the criminal complaint: “Yanez communicated his intent to pull over Castile’s vehicle by radio to St. Anthony Police Officer Joseph Kauser who was on patrol nearby. Yanez told Kauser that he had reason to pull the vehicle over and that the occupants ‘just look like the people that were involved in a robbery.’ Yanez further stated that ‘the driver looks more like one of our suspects just because of the wide set nose.’ Yanez noted that he also had reason to stop the vehicle because it had a non-working brake light. Yanez followed Castile’s vehicle, waiting until Kauser arrived as backup.”
The robbery of the Super USA in Lauderdale that Officer Yanez referred to remains unsolved, but the investigation into that case has ruled out Castile as a suspect. Video of a robbery, committed in Blaine after the time of Castile’s death shows a suspect whose physical features resemble the suspect from the Lauderdale robbery, and displaying gun that appears to be the same gun used in the Lauderdale robbery, which appears different from Castile’s gun.
http://youtu.be/NrjngYGolO8
https://youtu.be/NrjngYGolO8
Posted:Nov 16 2016 09:09AM CST
Updated:Nov 16 2016 01:23PM CST
ST. PAUL, Minn. (KMSP) - Ramsey County Attorney John Choi has charged St. Anthony Police Officer Jeronimo Yanez with second-degree manslaughter in the July 6 shooting death of Philando Castile. Choi concluded the use of deadly force was not justified.
“Based upon our thorough and exhaustive review of the facts, I have come to the conclusion that there simply was no justification for the use of deadly force by Officer Yanez in this case," said Ramsey County Attorney John Choi. "No reasonable officer who knew, saw, and heard what Officer Yanez did at the time would have used deadly force under these circumstances.”
“I ask for the public’s continued patience, trust and respect for the integrity of the process as we prosecute this case and seek justice for Philando Castile, his family and friends, including Diamond Reynolds and her daughter, and our broader community.” Choi said.
The shooting
Philando Castile, 32, was shot and killed by St. Anthony Police Officer Jeronimo Yanez during a traffic stop in Falcon Heights on July 6. The aftermath of the fatal shooting was broadcast on Facebook Live by his girlfriend, Diamond Reynolds, who was a passenger in Castile’s vehicle. In the video stream, Reynolds says they were pulled over for a broken tail light.
She says Castile let Officer Yanez know he had a permit to carry a firearm, and that he was reaching for his ID and wallet when he was shot. According to the criminal complaint, a valid driver's license and valid permit to carry a firearm (http://www.fox9.com/news/173548963-story) was recovered from Castile by investigators at the scene.
7 shots fired
Prosecutors emphasized that 7 shots fired into the vehicle, in close proximity of Reynolds and her child. Jeffery Noble, an expert on police procedure consulted by the prosecutor, said the use of deadly force was “objectively unreasonable and was inconsistent with generally accepted police practices.”
Friday court appearance
Officer Yanez will make his first court appearance Friday. Yanez was charged with second-degree manslaughter because it’s the highest level charge prosecutors feel they can convict on. Choi asked for public's continued trust, adding that Officer Yanez is innocent until proven guilty.
In Minnesota, second-degree manslaughter carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years.
The charges
Second-degree manslaughter - culpable negligence creating unreasonable risk, for the shooting of Philando Castile.
Dangerous weapons - Intentional discharge of firearm that endangers safety, for the firing of his gun near Diamond Reynolds.
Dangerous weapons - Intentional discharge of firearm that endangers safety, for the firing of his gun near Reynolds’ 4-year-old daughter.
Prosecutor: Don't blame Castile
To those who blame Philando Castile for the deadly outcome, Choi said, “don't," emphasizing that no other reasonable police officer in a similar situation would have used deadly force.
Why Yanez stopped Castile
According to the criminal complaint: “Yanez communicated his intent to pull over Castile’s vehicle by radio to St. Anthony Police Officer Joseph Kauser who was on patrol nearby. Yanez told Kauser that he had reason to pull the vehicle over and that the occupants ‘just look like the people that were involved in a robbery.’ Yanez further stated that ‘the driver looks more like one of our suspects just because of the wide set nose.’ Yanez noted that he also had reason to stop the vehicle because it had a non-working brake light. Yanez followed Castile’s vehicle, waiting until Kauser arrived as backup.”
The robbery of the Super USA in Lauderdale that Officer Yanez referred to remains unsolved, but the investigation into that case has ruled out Castile as a suspect. Video of a robbery, committed in Blaine after the time of Castile’s death shows a suspect whose physical features resemble the suspect from the Lauderdale robbery, and displaying gun that appears to be the same gun used in the Lauderdale robbery, which appears different from Castile’s gun.