Nothing in that article about why the officer shot. Is there backstory on this?
From what we saw in the video, these appear to be appropriate charges.
Wikipedia says that Philando said he had a Firearm and was told not to move. He moved.
On this one I must say I agree with the decision.
I don’t think the dashcam footage has ever been released, only the cell phone video taken by Castile’s passenger after the shooting.
Dashcam video wouldn’t show what the Yanez saw inside the car; a bodycam might.
I remember now...that was the one where the woman calmly said “you told him to get his license,sir” and the cop repeatedly shouting in response (in a very agitated state) “I told him not to move”.Granted that’s not much to go on but the cop’s claim sounded “real” to me.As is usually the case I’d want to know *everything* about the cop (drugs,booze,disciplinary issues,psych history,etc) *and* everything about the dead guy (drugs,booze,criminal history,psych history,etc) before I’ll form a firm opinion.
Why would anyone want to continue to be an Law Enforcement Officer?
As I had mentioned when this case broke, this case reeked like a week old homicide scene form day one.
Two wildly conflicting stories.She calmly claims he was told to show his ID and the cop,in a very agitated way,responds with "I told him not to reach for it" (the first minute of so of the video).I'm inclined to believe the cop at this point.So that would mean that either she and the dead guy misunderstood the instructions that were given (certainly possible) or the woman is lying through her teeth (a lot like in the "Gentle Giant" case.
These cases always begin with conflicting eyewitness accounts. Now that the states attorney has sorted it out and brought charges, the officer will have a chance to defend himself in court. Seems fair to me.
Pander politics.
We shall see.
Background[edit]
Victim[edit]
Philando Divall Castile (July 16, 1983 – July 6, 2016) was 32 years old at the time of his death.[8][9] Castile was born in St. Louis, Missouri.[10] He graduated from Saint Paul Central High School in 2001 and worked for the Saint Paul Public School District from 2002 until his death. Castile began as a nutrition services assistant at Chelsea Heights Elementary School and Arlington High School (now Washington Technology Magnet School). He was promoted to nutrition services supervisor at J. J. Hill Montessori Magnet School, in August 2014.[4][8] Prior to the shooting, Castile was stopped by the police 52 times for minor traffic infractions.[11][12]
Police[edit]
Jeronimo Yanez was identified by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension as the officer who shot Castile. The other officer involved in the traffic stop was identified as Joseph Kauser,[13] who was described as Yanez’s partner.[14] Both officers had been with the St. Anthony Police Department for four years at the time of the shooting,[14] and were longtime friends who had graduated together from the Minnesota State University, Mankato police academy in 2010.[15]
Yanez, of South St. Paul, was 28 years old at the time of the shooting[16] and is a Mexican American.[17]
The St. Anthony Police Department has 23 officers. Eight officers are funded through policing contracts with the cities of Lauderdale and Falcon Heights.[14] In a press briefing at the scene, St. Anthony’s interim police chief Jon Mangseth said that the shooting was the first officer-involved shooting that the department had experienced in at least thirty years.[1][4]
Source: Wikipedia
I knew the cop would be charged way back in 2016.
_____________________________________________
My post back on 7/13/2016
“”if the officer really thought this was a suspect in an “Armed Robbery” this event should have never happened like it did. And I will tell you why.””
“”Since this was a suspected “Armed Robbery” suspect, this should have been a felony traffic stop, where once the suspect vehicle stops, officers order the vehicle occupants out of the vehicle, one at a time, hands up, walk backwards towards the officers etc, etc. Most have seen the routine on TV many times. This is done for officer safety as well as the vehicle occupants.””
“”Btw, I have actually been attacked personally for simply looking critically at what is being reported so far and offering my thoughts. I personally think they have some real issues here.””