Vigil Planned For Castile & Others Shot By Police On Larpenteur Ave. Monday
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- People are planning on gathering near the Minnesota State Fair Monday afternoon for a memorial to honor a man shot and killed by police.
The vigil is for Philando Castile -- and others shot by police -- and starts at 5 p.m. and runs until 8 p.m. It's being held at what's known as "Philando's Peace Garden" on Larpenteur Avenue., just north of the State Fairgrounds, where members of the community have left signs, artwork and flowers.
It's at the spot where St. Anthony Police officer Jeronimo Yanez shot and killed Castile during a traffic stop July 6. His girlfriend live-streamed the aftermath on Facebook. Castile had a permit to carry a firearm, and was armed at the time. His girlfriend said he was reaching for his wallet, not his gun, when he was shot.
The live Facebook video went viral, sparking weeks of protest.
Organizers of the vigil say they want State Fair-goers to remember the violence that occurred at the site as they leave the fairgrounds Monday evening. They're encouraging people to express their grief and outrage, and to honor the memory of other Minnesotans killed by police in the last year. That would include Jamar Clark of Minneapolis and 20 others around the state.
The BCA is still investigating the shooting while the officer is on paid leave.
Castile was a longtime cafeteria worker and supervisor at St. Paul Public Schools.