Police in Minnesota have confirmed that a man has died after being shot by an officer Wednesday night while inside a car with a woman and child.
It was apparently documented in a Facebook Live recording posted by a woman in the car, who identified herself as the man’s girlfriend — the video, which had been posted for just a couple of hours, had more than one million views before it was taken down.
The incident occurred in the city of Falcon Heights, a suburb of Saint Paul.
The person who was shot has been identified by family as Philando Castile and police have identified the woman filming the altercation as Diamond Reynolds.
The president of the NAACP Minneapolis chapter also confirmed the name in a tweet early Thursday.
The St. Anthony Police Department said in a statement early Thursday that at 9 p.m. “a St. Anthony Police Officer effected a traffic stop on Larpenteur and Fry in the City of Falcon Heights, Minnesota. During the stop, shots were fired. One adult male was taken to the hospital. We have been informed that this individual is deceased.”
The statement continued, “No one else was injured and the BCA has been called in to investigate this officer involved shooting. A handgun was recovered from the scene.”
The police department acknowledged there may be video of the incident on social media.
Prior to the statement announcing the man’s death, interim St. Anthony Police Chief Jon Mangseth told ABC Minnesota affiliate, KSTP, said “I don’t know the reason for the traffic stop or what the circumstances were.”
The officer involved has been placed on standard paid administrative leave.
Around 200 people had gathered at the scene of the shooting overnight while dozens more began holding demonstrations outside the Governor’s mansion.(BRIAN MCBRIDE)
Link: http://abcnews.go.com/US/woman-livestreams-officer-involved-shooting-boyfriend/story?id=40396521
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