ST. PAUL, Minn., June 16 (Reuters) - A jury on Friday found the Minnesota police officer who fatally shot a black motorist during a traffic stop last year not guilty of second-degree manslaughter.

St. Anthony Police Department officer Jeronimo Yanez was charged after he fatally shot Philando Castile, 32, last July. The aftermath was streamed on social media by the driver's girlfriend, who was sitting in the passenger seat, and the incident drew national attention and led to weeks of protests in St. Paul and Minneapolis.

Yanez had testified that he was afraid for his life and that Castile did not follow his orders.

Castile's mother, Valerie Castile, speaking to reporters outside the court after the verdict, said: "I'm mad as hell right now. Yes, I am. My first born son died. ... Just because he was a police officer that makes it OK."

Valerie Castile, who abruptly left the courtroom after the verdict was read, said the verdict shows that "the system continues to fail black people."

Castile's sister, Allysza Castile, who spoke after her mother, said: "I will never have faith in the system."

In the courtroom after the verdict was read, people could be heard cursing and one woman sobbed.

A rally was planned for Friday night at the state capitol. St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman said that centers would be open around the city for community discussion.

"As people across our city, state and country react to the jury´s verdict, I urge each of us to move forward in a way that is peaceful and respectful of everyone - residents, demonstrators and police officers alike," Coleman said in a statement.

The shooting in the St. Paul suburb of Falcon Heights, like similar incidents across the United States, fueled public debate about the appropriate use of force by law enforcement against minorities.

During his testimony, Yanez said he feared for his life after Castile disregarded his commands and began reaching for a firearm that Castile had disclosed he had in his possession.

"I was scared to death. I thought I was going to die," Yanez said last week in response to questions from his attorney. "I had no other choice."

Prosecutors said Yanez was not justified in firing his gun, saying Castile was courteous and non-threatening. (Writing and additional reporting by Timothy Mclaughlin; Editing by Leslie Adler)</s>ST. PAUL, Minn. - A Ramsey County jury has found St. Anthony Police Officer Jeronimo Yanez NOT GUILTY of manslaughter in the shooting death of motorist Philando Castile.

The jury of seven men and five women deliberated for a bit more than four days before reaching a decision. Yanez was facing one charge of manslaughter, and two counts of dangerous discharge of a firearm.

KARE 11's Lou Raguse reports that the family of Philando Castile and supporters left the courtroom in tears, visibly sobbing. Castile's mother yelled an expletive the moment the verdict was read. Defense attorney Earl Gray rubbed the shoulder of Yanez. Raguse described the scene as extremely emotional.

In another development, the city of St. Anthony announced on its website that Yanez is no longer employed by the city as a police officer. The decision was announced in a brief press release.

The City of St. Anthony has concluded that the public will be best served if Officer Yanez is no longer a police officer in our city. The city intends to offer Officer Yanez a voluntary separation agreement to help him transition to another career other than being a St. Anthony officer. The terms of this agreement will be negotiated in the near future, so details are not available at this time. In the meantime, Officer Yanez will not return to active duty.

Castile was killed the night of July 6, 2016 during a traffic stop in the community of Falcon Heights, Minn. The St. Anthony department contracts with Falcon Heights to provide police protection. Yanez said he pulled Castile over because of a broken tail light on his car, but radio transmissions later revealed that the officer thought Castile resembled a suspect in the robbery of the Super USA convenience store just days earlier.

What is indisputable is that Yanez approached the window of Castile’s car, had a brief verbal interaction, then fired seven shots in a matter of seconds, fatally wounding Castile with two shots to the heart. Bullets fired by the officer came within inches of Castile’s girlfriend, Diamond Reynolds, in the passenger seat and Reynolds' 4-year-old daughter in the back seat.

Following a four-month investigation of the fatal officer-involved shooting, Ramsey County Attorney John Choi charged Yanez with manslaughter in the death of Castile, and two counts of dangerous discharge of a firearm for the exposure of Reynolds and her daughter to the gunfire. Choi said under Minnesota law, as written, the deadly use of force in Castile's death was not justified.

"I have given Officer Yanez every benefit of the doubt on his use of deadly force, but I cannot allow the death of a motorist who was lawfully carrying a firearm under these facts and circumstances to go unaccounted for," Choi told reporters.

Choi said second-degree manslaughter, which involves "gross negligence and an element of recklessness," is the most appropriate and provable charge in these circumstances. Choi announced he will hold a brief news conference on his reaction to the verdict. That is scheduled to start at 5 p.m.

The trial of Yanez began during the last week of May, with prosecutors maintaining that Yanez failed to use correct protocol, such as ordering Castile to put his hands on the steering wheel after being informed the motorist was carrying a permitted gun, and then panicked when he thought Castile was reaching for it.

“Officer Yanez used deadly force as a first option rather than a last resort," Ramsey County Assistant Prosecutor Jeff Paulsen told the jury during closing arguments.

The Yanez defense team steadfastly maintained that the officer clearly saw a gun in Castile’s pocket, felt he was reaching for it and feared his life was in danger when he discharged his weapon, a decision supported by two use of force experts and Yanez’s chief, all who testified in the two-week trial.

Attorney Earl Gray also hammered away at alleged drug use by Castile and his girlfriend, telling jurors that Castile’s being high contributed to his failure to follow Yanez’s commands.

“Drugs and guns don’t mix,” Gray said during closing arguments.</s>On 16 June 2017, a St. Anthony, Minnesota police officer was acquitted on all counts in the shooting death of 32-year-old Philando Castile.

Officer Jeronimo Yanez had been charged with second-degree manslaughter and reckless discharge of a firearm for shooting and killing Castile during a 6 July 2016 traffic stop. Castile’s girlfriend, Lavish Reynolds, captured footage of Castile bleeding out after Yanez shot him — a video that brought the case into the spotlight amid an increase in protests criticizing excessive police force and extrajudicial killings, particularly against members of black communities in the United States.

Castile’s mother, Valerie Castile, said in a press conference after the verdict was announced:

Nevertheless the system continues to fail black people. And they will continue to fail you all. Like I said, because this happened with Philando when they get done with us they’re coming for you, for you, for you and all your interracial children. Y’all are next, and you’ll be standing up here fighting for justice just as well as I am. I am so disappointed in the state of Minnesota. My son loved this state. He had one tattoo on his body and it was of the Twin Cities — the state of Minnesota with “T.C.” on it. My son loved this city, and the city killed my son and the murderer gets away.

Yanez, who is Mexican-American, testified on 9 June 2017 that he saw Castile grab a gun near his right thigh despite being ordered not to reach for it. He said:

In the footage from the scene, Yanez could be heard saying, “I told him not to reach for it. I told him to keep his hand open.” Reynolds — who was in the car along with the couple’s 4-year-old daughter, who was in the backseat — replied, “He was just getting his license and registration, sir.” (A handgun was found at the scene, for which Castile had a permit under state law, and which Castile had already told the officer that he owned and had a license to carry.)

Rashad Robinson, executive director of the advocacy group Color of Change, said in a statement condemning the verdict that it is “an outrage” that Ramsey County Attorney John J. Choi did not obtain a conviction against Yanez:

Following the announcement of the verdict, the city of St. Anthony said in a statement that Yanez would no longer work for local police there:

The City of St. Anthony has concluded that the public will be best served if Officer Yanez is no longer a police officer in our city. The city intends to offer Officer Yanez a voluntary separation agreement to help him transition to another career other than being a St. Anthony officer. The terms of this agreement will be negotiated in the near future, so details are not available at this time. In the meantime, Officer Yanez will not return to active duty.

Castile’s death was the impetus for Black Lives Matter demonstrations around the Twin Cities area that mirrored protests following the deaths of Alton Sterling, Michael Brown, and others at the hands of police.

Gov. Mark Dayton (D), who ordered an investigation into the incident, said in a statement following Yanez’s acquittal that activists and police working together can “can make the changes necessary to secure both safety and justice” in the state.

He also expressed his condolences toward Castile’s family, saying:</s>The Latest in the manslaughter trial of a Minnesota police officer who fatally shot a black motorist during a traffic stop (all times local):

 

3:05 p.m.

 

Family members of a black motorist shot dead by a Minnesota police officer last year reacted angrily to the officer being found innocent of manslaughter.

 

Officer Jeronimo Yanez was cleared of that charge and two lesser ones Friday in the death of 32-year-old Philando Castile. Yanez shot Castile five times during a traffic stop last July in a St. Paul suburb, seconds after Castile informed him he was carrying a gun.

 

Castile's mother, Valerie, stood and swore when the jury's verdict was read in St. Paul. His sister and others sobbed loudly. Family members immediately tried to leave the courtroom, and did so after security officers briefly barred their way.

 

___

 

3 p.m.

 

A Minnesota police officer has been acquitted of manslaughter in the fatal shooting of a black motorist.

 

Jeronimo (yeh-RON'-ih-moh) Yanez was also cleared Friday of two lesser charges in the July traffic stop in a St. Paul suburb. Yanez shot Philando Castile five times just seconds after Castile informed him he was carrying a gun.

 

Yanez testified that Castile was pulling his gun out of his pocket despite his commands not to do so. The defense also argued Castile was high on marijuana and said that affected his actions.

 

Castile had a permit for the weapon. Prosecutors questioned whether Yanez ever saw the gun. They argued that the officer overreacted and that Castile was not a threat.

 

The case garnered immediate attention because Castile's girlfriend streamed the aftermath live on Facebook.

 

___

 

2:15 p.m.

 

A Minnesota jury has reached a verdict in the trial of a police officer charged with manslaughter in the death of a black motorist.

 

Ramsey County court officials say the verdict will be read around 2:45 p.m. Central time.

 

Officer Jeronimo (yeh-RON'-ih-moh) Yanez is charged in the death of 32-year-old Philando Castile.

 

Yanez pulled Castile over for a broken taillight July 6 in a St. Paul suburb. He shot Castile seconds later, after Castile informed him he was carrying a gun.

 

The shooting drew widespread attention and condemnation in part because Castile's girlfriend streamed the gruesome aftermath of the shooting live on Facebook.

 

___

 

1:35 p.m.

 

Defense attorneys for a Minnesota police officer charged with manslaughter in the death of a black motorist say the jury won't deliberate over the weekend if they can't reach a verdict Friday.

 

Officer Jeronimo (yeh-RON'-ih-moh) Yanez is charged in the July 6 death of Philando Castile. The 32-year-old school cafeteria worker was shot seconds after he informed Yanez he was carrying a gun.

 

Attorney Earl Gray told reporters after meeting with the judge Friday afternoon that the jury would be discharged until Monday if they don't agree by day's end.

 

A court spokeswoman didn't immediately respond to a message seeking comment.

 

Yanez testified that Castile disregarded his orders not to pull out his gun. Prosecutors say the 29-year-old Latino officer overreacted.

 

___

 

10 a.m.

 

Jurors considering the fate of a Minnesota police officer who killed a black motorist opened their fifth day of deliberations by asking to have the officer's entire testimony re-read to them.

 

Judge William Leary told jurors Friday that he was denying the request. He said the reasons were unimportant, and he sent them back to work.

 

Officer Jeronimo Yanez is charged with manslaughter in the death of Philando Castile. Yanez shot Castile during a traffic stop in a St. Paul suburb after Castile informed the officer he was carrying a gun. Castile had a permit for the firearm.

 

Yanez has testified that Castile ignored his commands not to pull out the gun and he feared for his life. Prosecutors argue he overreacted to a man who wasn't a threat.

 

___

 

12:05 a.m.

 

Jurors weighing the fate of a Minnesota police officer who killed a black motorist last July are headed into their fifth day of deliberations.

 

Officer Jeronimo (yeh-RON'-ih-moh) Yanez is charged with manslaughter in the death of Philando Castile. Yanez shot Castile during a traffic stop in a St. Paul suburb after Castile informed the officer he was carrying a gun. Castile had a permit for the firearm.

 

Deliberations resume Friday morning.

 

On Wednesday, the apparently deadlocked jury was summoned to court by the judge and told to keep deliberating. Thursday's deliberations passed quietly.

 

Yanez testified Castile was pulling the gun out against his instructions and he feared for his life. Prosecutors insist Yanez never saw a gun and had plenty of options short of shooting Castile.</s>Yanez stands outside the Ramsey County Courthouse on Tuesday, May 30, 2017, in St. Paul, Minn.

David Joles / AP file</s>A Minnesota police officer was acquitted of manslaughter Friday in the fatal shooting of a black motorist who had informed the officer seconds earlier that he was carrying a gun. Jeronimo Yanez was also cleared of two lesser charges in the July traffic stop in a St. Paul suburb.

Start the conversation, or Read more at New York Post.</s>ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota police officer acquitted of manslaughter charge in fatal shooting of black motorist.</s>ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – A Minnesota police officer has been acquitted of manslaughter in the fatal shooting of a black motorist.

Jeronimo Yanez was also cleared Friday of two lesser charges in the July traffic stop in a St. Paul suburb. Yanez shot Philando Castile five times just seconds after Castile informed him he was carrying a gun.

Yanez testified that Castile was pulling his gun out of his pocket despite his commands not to do so. The defense also argued Castile was high on marijuana and said that affected his actions.

Castile had a permit for the weapon. Prosecutors questioned whether Yanez ever saw the gun. They argued that the officer overreacted and that Castile was not a threat.

The case garnered immediate attention because Castile’s girlfriend streamed the aftermath live on Facebook.</s>ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- A Minnesota police officer was acquitted Friday afternoon of a manslaughter charge in the fatal shooting of black motorist.

Officer Jeronimo Yanez was charged in the death of 32-year-old Philando Castile.

Yanez pulled Castile over for a broken taillight July 6 in a St. Paul suburb. He shot Castile seconds later, after Castile informed him he was carrying a gun.

The shooting drew widespread attention and condemnation in part because Castile's girlfriend streamed the gruesome aftermath of the shooting live on Facebook.</s>Jeronimo Yanez, the Minnesota police officer who fatally shot Philando Castile during a traffic stop last year, was found not guilty of second-degree manslaughter Friday.

He also was acquitted of two counts of intentional discharge of firearm that endangers safety.

A Minnesota jury has reached a verdict in the manslaughter trial of Jeronimo Yanez, the officer who fatally shot Philando Castile during a traffic stop last year.

Yanez is on trial for one count of second-degree manslaughter and two counts of intentional discharge of firearm that endangers safety because Castile’s girlfriend and her 4-year-old daughter were also in the car.

Castile’s death garnered widespread attention after his girlfriend broadcast the shooting’s aftermath on Facebook Live.

During the two-week trial, prosecutors portrayed Yanez as a nervous officer who lost control of his traffic stop. He was too quick to pull the trigger after learning Castile had a gun based on an unreasonable suspicion that he was a robbery suspect, prosecutors said.

Yanez testified he feared for his life because Castile reached for his firearm, despite being instructed not to do.

Developing story – more to come
Jeronimo Yanez, the police officer previously accused of manslaughter and reckless discharge of a firearm at Philando Castile, is acquitted of all charges.