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SAY HIS NAME: #PhilandoCastile

Posted by Sandra Waterman on


SAY HIS NAME: Philando Castile

Life: July 16, 1983 - July 6, 2016 (Age: 32)

Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri

Leaves behind: Mother, Valerie Castile and girlfriend, Diamond Reynolds

Location of Death: Falcon Heights, Minnesota

Murderer: St. Anthony Police Department Officer Jeronimo Yanez

A Little About Phil:

Philando Castile was 32 years old at the time he was murdered in Minnesota in 2016. One year after graduating from St Paul Central Highschool in 2001, Philando began working for St Paul Public school district in the nutrition services department. He would serve his local schools and students for 14 years until his death. Valerie Castile, Philando’s mother, says of her son:
"My son was a law-abiding citizen,
and he did nothing wrong. He had a
permit to carry. But with all of that,
trying to do the right things and
live accordingly, by the law,
he was killed by the law. I'm outraged."


Shortly after 9PM on July 6, 2016, Philando Castile, his girlfriend, Diamond Reynolds and her 4 year old daughter were pulled over as they left a grocery store. Although Officer Yanez said he pulled the couple over for a busted tail light, police transcripts record Yanez as reporting the stop because the driver of the vehicle looked like a suspect wanted for a robbery and he “didn’t get a good look at the passenger.” After a brief exchange that lasted approximately 40 seconds according to police dash cam recordings, Officer Yanez fired seven shots into the vehicle at close range, five of which hit Castile, and one that went through the drivers seat and struck the back seat inches away from where Diamond Reynolds daughter sat in her car seat. Officer Yanez stated in his testimony that he smelled marijuana burning in the vehicle and immediately thought the couple had no regard for life as Castile told him he had a gun. After Yanez was told about the gun things escalated quickly and Philando Castile was pronounced dead at a local hospital 20 minutes later at 9:37p.m.

Many many people remember the day they woke up to Diamond Reynolds’ Facebook live stream where she calmly talked to the officer as Philando’s white t-shirt filled with blood and he whispered his last words “I wasn’t reaching for it (gun).” Diamond was then escorted to a police vehicle where the live stream continued as she got angry about the senseless murder of her boyfriend. Her small daughter assured her that she was right there with her and to stop cussing because she didn’t want her mother to suffer the same fate. Officer Yanez was charged with 2nd degree manslaughter and 2 counts of dangerous discharge of a firearm. He was later acquitted and the family lawsuits were settled at just over $3 million.

So many people wish things could have ended differently. Police officers should be required to go through extensive and ongoing training to learn de-escalating tactics, use of firearms, dealing w their own mental capacities before entering the streets to serve and protect, and so much more.  Today we remember the late Philando Castile, we #SayHisName and tell his story because #BlackLivesMatter

 

How Can You Help?

DONATE TO THE “PHILANDO FEEDS THE CHILDREN FUND”:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/philando-castile-feeds-the-children?fbclid=IwAR1PuXGJ3koHwj8t25VADAM7trGg1Aps1XXXDr1yiWFe2ihVlkEUWLm7qxQ

 

HELP BUILD THE PHILANDO PEACE GARDEN AT THE SITE OF HIS MURDER:

https://www.givemn.org/story/Tqyydg

 

SIGN THE PETITION TO RENAME THE STREET WHERE PHILANDO WAS KILLED AFTER HIM:

https://www.change.org/p/make-larpenteur-avenue-philando-castile-memorial-ave?signed=true

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