No charges against Minneapolis cops in fatal shooting

Minneapolis police officers will not face criminal charges in the fatal shooting of Thurman Blevins, an armed man who yelled “Please don’t shoot me” last month as he ran through an alley, prosecutors said Monday.

Body camera footage of the shooting, made public Sunday night by the mayor of Minneapolis, showed a chaotic foot chase through a neighborhood that ended with Blevins fatally wounded. Before the gunshots, one officer repeatedly shouted expletives and told Blevins to drop his gun. Blevins yelled “leave me alone” as he ran away.

The videos and the decision not to charge the officers provided new details about a case that has renewed long-standing tensions in Minneapolis over how police use force and treat black people. The officers in the case are white; Blevins, 31, was black.

But the video footage did little to change two competing narratives that have emerged since Blevins’ death on June 23. Some watched the images and saw officers following appropriate procedures as they confronted an armed person who refused to comply with their orders. Others said they saw officers overreacting to a scared man simply trying to get away.

Questions about police conduct have repeatedly emerged in the Minneapolis region, where the deaths of Jamar Clark, Philando Castile and Justine Ruszczyk have led to large protests in recent years.

“It is just outrageous that people would attempt to justify the shooting death of this man,” said Nekima Levy-Pounds, a civil rights lawyer who has often criticized police. “The police should have found a way to de-escalate the situation.”

Lt. Bob Kroll, president of the union that represents Minneapolis officers, drew far different conclusions. He said the officers, Ryan Kelly and Justin Schmidt, should receive awards from the department for their handling of the situation.

Prosecutor Mike Freeman said a spent cartridge casing from Blevins’ gun was found in the alley. Freeman said it appeared Blevins had fired at the officers, but he could not say for sure.

Freeman abruptly ended a news conference Monday when protesters and members of Blevins’ family shouted over him. He later released a statement saying no charges would be filed against Kelly and Schmidt.