Minnesota officer released after hearing in Castile shooting
ST. PAUL, Minn. — A Minnesota police officer who shot and killed Philando Castile during a July traffic stop will be allowed to remain free as a manslaughter case against him proceeds, a judge ruled during a brief court hearing Friday.
St. Anthony police officer Jeronimo Yanez was released on his own recognizance after an initial court hearing. Yanez was charged this week with second-degree manslaughter in the death of Castile, a 32-year-old black man who was shot during a July 6 traffic stop in the St. Paul suburb of Falcon Heights after he told Yanez, who is Latino, he had a gun and a license to carry.
Castile’s girlfriend streamed his final gruesome moments live on Facebook.
On Wednesday, prosecutors said Yanez acted unreasonably and was not justified in using deadly force.