In a new development, Facebook user Diamond Reynolds live streamed her boyfriend, Philando Castile , as he slowly died after being shot by police officers.
According to Reynolds, Philando Castile was shot and killed by a St. Anthony police officer, on July 6 — just hours ago.
Castile’s girlfriend, Reynolds, used Facebook Live as a method to capture and instantly upload what was happening during their traffic stop.
However, it would seem — as if by “complete happenstance” — that Facebook has disabled Diamond Reynolds’ page, rendering the live video totally unreachable. Why would Facebook do that?
New York Daily News reports as follows.
“St. Anthony interim police chief Jon Mangseth told reporters Wednesday night that two of his officers were the ones at the traffic stop with Castile. He said that he was aware of the Facebook video, which has since been taken down, but did not have details about it.”
Good thing Facebook wasn’t the only medium that received the video upload, huh?
Below, you can watch the Philando Castile police shooting video for yourself.
Disclaimer: The following video contains graphic footage. Viewer discretion is advised.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLb5glEgWq8
In case you didn’t watch the graphic, real-life shooting that Diamond Reynolds and Philando Castile experienced at the hands of the Saint Anthony Police Department , here are the details.
According to New York Daily News , Philando Castile was asked to present his license and registration information to the officer, after being pulled over for a broken tail light.
Once Philando’s information was requested — acting as a responsible gun owner — Castile also informed the police officer that he had a weapon on his person and that he was licensed to carry.
According to Reynolds, as Philando Castile slowly reached for his wallet in order to give the officer what he requested, the officer commanded that he cease movement. So, possibly as a natural reflex, Philando put his hands back in the air. And, that’s allegedly when the police officer shot Castile four times, says Diamond.
In the video, you can hear the frantic officer as he awaits backup.
Likewise, you can clearly see Philando Castile leaning back behind the passenger seat as he bleeds out. The officer continued to point his gun at the motionless man.
Disclaimer: The following photos contain graphic material. Viewer discretion is advised.
Once backup arrived, they pulled Diamond Reynolds from the passenger seat of the car, ordered her to keep her hands up, and eventually to get on the ground.
Once on the ground, you can hear Reynolds cry out for Castile while watching him die.
Unfortunately, Philando later died at Hennepin County Medical Center.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1204480336245704&set=a.156595637700851.35480.100000512474102&type=3&permPage=1
In the above photo, you can see one of the officers holding Diamond’s child — who was in the car at the time of the Philando Castile shooting. What if the officer had also shot Reynolds’ little girl?
This officer did not use good judgement.
Retired New York City police officer Frank Serpico might have said it best. To New York Daily News , he mentioned that many police officers, nowadays, are just cowards with guns. Rather than doing actual police work and upholding their responsibilities, Serpico notes that they’d rather “shoot first, and ask questions later.”
To digress, once Diamond Reynolds was placed in the back of a patrol car, she continued to record her video. At that point, she was requesting help.
Some people have asked, “Why didn’t she call 911?” But, who could she call when the “supposed help” was already on-location and as the alleged active shooter?
How about you? What are your thoughts regarding Philando Castile’s shooting? Feel free to share your comments below.
[Image via Facebook ]