The verdict in Minnesota

Last July, Minnesota police officer Jeronimo Yanez pulled over Philando Castile’s car. Castile’s girlfriend sat in the passenger seat, her 4-year-old daughter in the back. As seen in the dash cam video viewed for the first time in court this month, a respectful exchange ensued.

Yanez tells Castile he has a brake light out and asks for his license and proof of insurance. Castile hands over his insurance card and prepares to get his wallet.

“Sir, I do have to tell you I have a firearm,” he says. “OK, don’t reach for it, then” Yanez answers. Castile then tries to tell Yanez he’s not reaching for his gun.

Yanez, convinced the fever dream in his head is the reality in the world, again urges Castile, “Don’t pull it out.” He then fires seven shots, killing Castile. Friday, a jury acquitted Yanez on all counts.

Not guilty of second-degree manslaughter. Not even guilty of two counts of endangering public safety by discharging his firearm seven times into a vehicle carrying a man, woman and child.

It boggles the logical mind to believe a man who intends to shoot a police officer would volunteer the fact that he has a license to carry and a gun in his car.

Police officers have cause to be on guard, cause to protect themselves as they carry out their often dangerous duty. But fear cannot overwhelm reason. Fear cannot justify taking innocent life.

Despite no expression of hostility from Castile, despite no sudden movements, despite a clear explanation Castile was reaching for his wallet, Yanez jumped to the conclusion that this man, a black man, was reaching for a weapon, not his wallet.

A police officer will walk free while the family of the man he killed mourns, and the officer’s utterly irrational fear was the key to his acquittal.

This is madness.