The Minnesota police officer that brutally gunned down Philando Castile has been charged with second-degree manslaughter. Details inside…
Minnesota prosecutors filed charges against the officer who fatally shot Philando Castile during a traffic stop in Falcon Heights back in July. Officer Jeronimo Yanez was charged with second-degree manslaughter for the deadly shooting. Yanez said he pulled Philando over because he thought he looked like a possible match for an armed robbery suspect.
In a news conference today, Ramsey County attorney John Choi said that Yanez’s use of deadly force was unjustified as Philando “never removed or tried to remove” the gun (that he was licensed to carry) in his pocket.
Choi also said that Officer Yanez will be charged with two felony counts of dangerous discharge of a firearm for endangering the lives of Philando’s girlfriend Diamond Reynolds and their 4-year-old daughter, who were also in the car at the time of the shooting.
News about Philando’s shooting death spread like wildfire after Diamond pulled out her cell phone and started streaming the altercation via Facebook Live.
According to reports, Yanez will make his first appearance in court on Friday where he is expected to turn himself in. After the shooting, Officer Yanez and his partner Officer Joseph Kauser were both put on leave from the St. Anthony Police Department. Officer Kauser will not face any charges.
You’ll recall a day after Philando’s shooting, an officer shot and killed Alton Sterling that launched several protests across the nation.
While we’re happy to hear that Yanez has been charged in the shooting death of Philando Castile, the fight isn’t over yet. He still has to go to trail. We’re hoping it doesn’t result in the same way that the Trayvon Martin/George Zimmerman case ended.
Prayers up to the Castile family.
Photo: Facebook
