Philando Castile died at Hennepin County Medical Center Wednesday night after being shot by police in Falcon Heights, MN.
The 32-year-old St. Paul schools employee was riding in a car with his girlfriend and a child when the three were pulled over for a traffic stop. In a Facebook live-stream taken shortly after the incident, Lavish Reynolds says, “he’s licensed to carry, he was trying to get out his ID out his wallet pocket. He let the officer know he had a firearm and he was reaching for his wallet and the officer just shot him in his arm.”
Castile later died at the hospital.
Video in the aftermath of the incident was captured by a witness and posted to Twitter.
The names of the officer and his backup have not been released. One officer is on paid administrative leave. St. Anthony police do not have body cameras, according to the department’s office manager.
Castile’s family spoke with CNN on Thursday.
“He’s not an officer,” said Clarence Castile, the victim’s uncle. “He’s just a man. An officer is supposed to protect and serve. That was a man who did that. That man is a destroyer and he came into our lives and done something and took something from us.”
About 200 protestors gathered outside of the Governor’s home Thursday morning calling for justice.
The public took to Twitter demanding answers.
Another day, another tag. Don't know how much more I can take, I'm checking out for bit, my tired is so damn tired y'all #PhilandoCastille
— Da Funky Wakandan♿♒ (@Tripping_Crutch) July 7, 2016
Dylan Roof is sitting pretty and even having lawyers DEFEND his actions.#PhilandoCastille followed the "rules" and is dead.
Save it.
— Bayard Taught Me (@_M_Pulse) July 7, 2016
I hope the NRA and my fellow 2nd Amendment defenders come to the defense of #PhilandoCastille cause that would be consistent.
— ConservativeBlackMan (@Thomasismyuncle) July 7, 2016
I feel like my brain might explode! He did absolutely everything right. We can't win in a system designed for us to fail. #PhilandoCastille
— Al Bree (@nlitenmebabe) July 7, 2016
A GoFundMe page has been set up by Xavier L Burgin in Castile’s honor. All funds received will go to the victim’s family. Click here to contribute.
This shooting comes 24 hours after the death of Alton Sterling, the man shot and killed by police in Baton Rouge.
