Philando Castille

People

Philando Castille

Outcome

unknown

On July 6, 2016, Philando Castile, a 32-year-old Black man, was shot and killed by St. Anthony, Minnesota police officer Jeronimo Yanez during a traffic stop in Falcon Heights. Castile, a beloved school nutrition services supervisor, was pulled over for a broken brake light while driving with his girlfriend Diamond Reynolds and her 4-year-old daughter. When Castile calmly informed Officer Yanez that he was licensed to carry a firearm and had a gun in the car, Yanez drew his weapon and fired seven shots into the vehicle within 40 seconds of the stop beginning. Castile was struck five times. What made the case sear into national consciousness was what happened next. Diamond Reynolds, with remarkable composure, began streaming the aftermath on Facebook Live while her daughter sat in the back seat. The video, viewed millions of times, showed a dying Castile slumped in his seat, Reynolds narrating the scene while Yanez continued pointing his weapon at the car. Castile can be heard moaning that he was not reaching for his gun. He died at a nearby hospital. Officer Yanez was charged with second-degree manslaughter and two counts of dangerous discharge of a firearm. On June 16, 2017, after five days of deliberation, a jury acquitted Yanez of all charges. He was immediately fired by the City of St. Anthony. The City of St. Paul settled with Castile's family for nearly $3 million, and Reynolds reached a separate settlement for $800,000. In 2020, when Yanez applied for a teaching license, the Minnesota licensing board denied his application, citing his racial profiling of Castile and the lasting harm to Castile's family. Castile's death became a rallying point for discussions about the dangers Black Americans face from police, even when following the law and doing everything "right."