Man killed as arrest death protests erupt into violence
A MAN was shot dead amid scenes of looting and violence sparked by the death of a black man during an arrest by white police officers.
In a second night of protests after George Floyd’s fatal arrest thousands took to the streets in Minneapolis.
The Floyd family lawyer had called for peaceful protests and the victim’s fiancée Courteney Ross appealed for calm. She said: “Floyd would not want people to get hurt. He lived his life protecting people. That is the truth.” A video has emerged online of Mr Floyd encouraging young people to put an end to gun violence. The footage was circulated on Twitter.
Dozens of businesses were looted while others were set on fire and the man was shot dead outside a pawn shop amid claims he was breaking in.
Ignored
Despite initially peaceful protests, the demo at the police station where the four officers involved were based turned violent and police used tear gas, flash grenade and rubber bullets.
Yesterday streets in the vicinity resembled a war zone as the National Guard were drafted in.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has pleaded with residents for calm.
He said: “I’m imploring our city, imploring our community, imploring every one of us to keep the peace. Let’s honour George Floyd’s memory.”
Mr Frey has demanded the officer seen kneeling on Mr Floyd’s neck for eight minutes, causing him to pass out and later die face charges.
He said the death would not have occurred if the 46-year-old had been white. The father-of-two died on Monday evening after officer Derek Chauvin was videoed placing his weight on Mr Floyd, who had been dragged from his car outside a Cup Foods convenience store suspected of using a fake $20 bill.
While he was pinned down, Mr Floyd was filmed pleading: “Please, please, I can’t breathe. My stomach hurts. My neck hurts. Everything hurts.” He continued, asking officers: “Water or something, please. I can’t breathe.The knee on my neck.”
Donald Trump has ordered an FBI investigation into the “tragic” death of Mr Floyd. The President appeared to suggest he had personally ordered the probe, which was announced by the FBI a day earlier.