Dashcam video shows seven shots at Castile
Recording shown during trial released to public
MINNEAPOLIS — Video that shows a Minnesota police officer shooting seven rapid shots at Philando Castile during a traffic stop last July was made public Tuesday, just days after the officer was acquitted on all counts in the case.
The video was captured by a camera in the squad car of Officer Jeronimo Yanez, who was found not guilty of manslaughter and other charges in the fatal shooting of Castile, a black motorist who was shot just seconds after he told Yanez he had a gun. The shooting gained widespread attention because Castile’s girlfriend, Diamond Reynolds, livestreamed its gruesome aftermath on Facebook.
Unlike Reynolds’ video, the squadcar video shows the situation’s quick escalation and the shooting itself. It was played for jurors at trial but was not released publicly until Tuesday. The footage offers a disturbing perspective on how a traffic stop for a faulty brake light turned deadly in mere seconds.
The squad-car video shows a wide view of the traffic stop and the shooting It captures what was said and shows Yanez, who is Latino, firing into the vehicle.
The video shows Yanez following Castile’s car, then pulling it over. It shows Yanez approaching Castile’s car and asking for a driver’s license and proof of insurance. Castile gives the proof of insurance to Yanez through the driver’s side window, and Castile puts it in his pocket. Castile is then heard saying, “Sir, I have to tell you, I do have a firearm on me.”
Castile, a 32-year-old elementary school cafeteria worker, had a permit to carry the weapon.
Before Castile finishes that sentence, Yanez has his hand on his own gun and is pulling it out of the holster. Yanez says, “OK. Don’t reach for it then.” There is shouting, and Yanez screams “Don’t pull it out!” before he fires seven shots into the car.