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County Atty Choi Charges Officer Yanez in Shooting of Philando Castile

By Unicorn Riot

St. Paul, MN – On November 16, 2016, Twin Cities community members gathered outside Ramsey County Attorney John Choi’s office learned that Officer Jeronimo Yanez, who killed Philando Castile at a traffic stop, will be charged with second-degree manslaughter and two felony counts of dangerous discharge of a firearm. As nighttime fell, hundreds hit the streets calling for “The real prosecution of Jeronimo Yanez.”

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The decision comes after months of community support for Castile’s family and friends, protests, a occupation of the Minnesota Governor’s mansion, and an interstate shut down police forcefully terminated.

Unicorn Riot was in the office of Ramsey County Attorney John Choi as the decision was announced to the local Twin Cities community.


Here is the video of the decision:

Here is a press release of the charges filed against Officer Yanez.

11-16-16-yanez-press-release

To read the transcripts of the statement made by Attorney Choi, see here.

“Philando Castile moaned and uttered his final words, “I wasn’t reaching for it.” – John Choi, Ramsey County Atty

Ramsey County Attorney described the situation that resulted in Philando’s death and stated that Yanez shot seven shots into the vehicle Castile was in after Philando and his girlfriend Diamond Reynolds both stated he wasn’t reaching for his registered gun after telling Officer Yanez he had one.

As night fell, many gathered in St. Paul and hit the streets calling for more stringent charges against Yanez. We were live:

https://vimeo.com/611849808

https://vimeo.com/611850190

Unicorn Riot was live at the scene of Philando Castile killing as community members gathered at the site of the police shooting that led to the occupation of the Minnesota Governor’s house. Below is are our live video streams.





The following day we were live for a vigil at JJ Hill Montessori School, where Philando worked.

Protests ensued after the vigil, as the Twin Cities communities came together to support of Philando Castile’s friends and family.

Here is the following days of mourning, protests,and grieving for Philando Castile.

And the eventual I-94 shutdown as the community demanded justice for Philando Castile.

About a week after the I-94 shutdown, another group, this one with non-Black ‘allies’, shut down the same interstate roadway.

Officer Yanez’ first court appearance will be Friday, November 18th, at 1:30pm at the Ramsey County Law Enforcement Center. He has yet to be taken into custody for these felony charges.

The community members gathered at the announcement could be heard planning to attend Friday’s hearing to continue to support Philando Castile’s friends & family and demand justice for Castile.

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Unicorn Riot coverage of Philando Castile's Killing by St. Anthony Police Officer Jeronimo Yanez:

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Published November 16, 2016
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