St. Anthony Police Officer Charged in Fatal Shooting of Philando Castile

A Ramsey County prosecutor says the police officer who shot and killed a black motorist in suburban St. Paul in July had no good reason to use deadly force.

John Choi announced that he is filing second-degree manslaughter charges against St. Anthony police officer Jeronimo Yanez.

Yanez shot and killed 32-year-old Philando Castile on July 6 during a traffic stop.

The shooting’s aftermath was streamed live on Facebook by Castile’s girlfriend, who was in the car with him.

“Based upon our thorough and exhausted review of the facts of this case, it is my conclusion that the use of deadly force by Officer Yanez was not justified,” said Choi.

Yanez is expected to make his first court appearance on Friday.

Yanez told his partner shortly before pulling Castile over that he looked like a suspect in a convenience store robbery.

But a criminal complaint says an investigation ruled him out as a suspect.