Philando Castile got victimized by the system.”<br />The verdict, which came on the fifth day of deliberations, followed the acquittal last month of an Oklahoma police officer who killed an unarmed black man<br />and, of particular interest here, a prosecutor’s decision last year not to charge the Minneapolis officers who killed another black man, Jamar Clark.<br />Prosecutors said Officer Yanez had created a dangerous situation, perceived a threat where none existed and,<br />in addition to killing Mr. Castile, almost wounded Ms. Reynolds and her young daughter in the back seat.<br />Mr. Gray said Officer Yanez smelled marijuana, believed Mr. Castile matched the description of a recent robbery suspect and saw him grabbing a gun.<br />“And that’s his fault, not the fault of Philando Castile.”<br />Mr. Castile was licensed to carry a gun and was recorded on a dashboard camera video calmly telling Officer Yanez that he had a weapon in the car.<br />Minnesota Officer Acquitted in Killing of Philando Castile -<br />By MITCH SMITHJUNE 16, 2017<br />ST. PAUL — A Minnesota police officer, whose fatal shooting of a black motorist transfixed the<br />nation when his girlfriend livestreamed the aftermath, was acquitted of all charges on Friday.<br />“He did what he had to do,” Mr. Gray said, adding that the situation was “tragic.”<br />The jury of 12, including two black people, had to sort through the competing narratives.
