A Minnesota prosecutor who filed manslaughter charges Wednesday against a police officer in the death of motorist Philando Castile detailed the deadly encounter July 6 between Castile and officer Jeronimo Yanez. An excerpt from John Choi's remarks, which closely matched a criminal complaint, follow. In his remarks, Choi also mentioned Castile's girlfriend, Diamond Reynolds:
Officer Yanez asked Castile to produce his driver's license and proof of insurance. Castile first provided him with his insurance card.
Castile then, calmly, and in a non-threatening manner, informed Officer Yanez, “sir, I have to tell you that I do have a firearm on me.”
Before Castile completed the sentence, Officer Yanez interrupted and calmly replied, “okay” and placed his right hand on the holster of his own, holstered, gun.
Officer Yanez then said, “okay, don't reach for it, then.”
Castile tried to respond but was interrupted by Officer Yanez, who said, “don't pull it out.”
Castile responded, “I'm not pulling it out,” and Reynolds also responded by saying, “he's not pulling it out.”
Then Officer Yanez screamed, “don't pull it out!” and quickly pulled his own gun with his right hand while he reached inside the driver's side window with his left hand.
Officer Yanez pulled his left arm out of the car, and then fired seven shots in rapid succession into the vehicle.
The seventh and final shot was fired at 9:06 and two seconds p.m.
After the final shot, Reynolds frantically yelled, “you just killed my boyfriend!”
Philando Castile moaned and uttered his final words: “I wasn't reaching for it.”
To which Reynolds loudly said, “he wasn't reaching for it.”
Before Reynolds completed her sentence, Officer Yanez again screamed, “don't pull it out!”
Reynolds responded by saying, “he wasn't.”
