Jury clears Minn. cop in black motorist’s death

Philando Castile’s dying moments were streamed live.

The mother of Philando Castile, whose dying moments were streamed live, says Jeronimo Yanez murdered her son.

A Minnesota police officer was acquitted of manslaughter Friday in the fatal shooting of Philando Castile, a black motorist whose girlfriend streamed the aftermath live on Facebook.

Jeronimo Yanez was also cleared of two lesser charges in the July traffic stop in a St. Paul suburb. Jurors deliberated for about 29 hours over five days before reaching the verdict in the death of Castile, who was shot just seconds after informing Yanez that he was carrying a gun.

Castile’s family members reacted angrily, with his mother, Valerie, standing and swearing as the verdict was read. She and other family members immediately tried to leave the courtroom, and did so after security officers briefly barred the way.

Outside the courthouse, Valerie Castile said Yanez got away with “murder,” noting that her son was wearing a seatbelt and in a car with his girlfriend and her then4-year-old daughter when he was shot.

“I will continue to say murder,” she said. “I am so very, very, very ... disappointed in the system here in the state of Minnesota. Nowhere in the world do you die from being honest and telling the truth.”

Yanez, who is Latino, testified that Castile was pulling his gun out of his pocket despite his commands not to do so. The defense also argued Castile was high on marijuana and said that affected his actions.

Despite the acquittal, the city of St. Anthony quickly announced it would dismiss Yanez, saying the public “will be best served” if he leaves the force. The city’s statement said they would offer a voluntary separation agreement.