Almost 24 hours after cops shot and killed a 37-year-old man named Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge on Tuesday (July 5) outside a convenience store, a Minnesota police officer fatally shot Philando Castile, 32, at a traffic stop in Falcon Heights, Minnesota on Wednesday night (July 6).
A heartbreaking video that was posted and streamed live via Facebook after the shooting by Castile’s girlfriend, Lavish Reynolds, showed that Castile was shot four or five times. Reynolds said that after the officer demanded to see his license and registration, Castile informed the patrolman that he was carrying a licensed firearm and was reaching for the documents. “Police just shot my boyfriend for no apparent reason,” she is seen telling the camera.
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According to the Daily Beast, Reynolds adds that Castile had complied, had no criminal record and was licensed to carry the gun. Toward the end of the clip, Reynolds is also seen crying and screaming in the back of a cop cruiser with her young daughter, who says, “It’s okay, mommy. I’m right here with you.”
While police have yet to release more information, celebrities weighed in on the Castile shooting on their timelines. See their reactions below.
Another day, another hashtag. You didn’t deserve this, brother. You didn’t deserve this. #PhilandoCastile
— NE-YO (@NeYoCompound) July 7, 2016
#FalconHeights Went to bed crying woke up crying #PhilandoCastille #PhilandoCastille #PhilandoCastille
— Chelsea Peretti (@chelseaperetti) July 7, 2016
Wow…… Back to back just like that. #PhilandoCastile.. RIP big bruh
— Diggy (@diggy_simmons) July 7, 2016
There are so many broken, backwards issues at play here it’s numbing to digest. #PhilandoCastile #AltonSterling #blacklivesmatter
— josh groban (@joshgroban) July 7, 2016
Time to MOBILIZE!!! fuck this shit… They are blatantly killing black ppl!!! Att. All leaders I’m here for you I wanna fight…
— Ja Rule (@Ruleyork) July 7, 2016
Black White Spanish Asian All ppl it’s time to MOBILIZE!!! Police officers the so called good ones better stand up and call FOUL!!!
— Ja Rule (@Ruleyork) July 7, 2016
We’re being hunted!!!
— Ja Rule (@Ruleyork) July 7, 2016
It hasn’t even been fucking 48 hours since the last shooting…
— Ja Rule (@Ruleyork) July 7, 2016
He died .. His name is Philando Castile, he was 32 #FalconHeights shooting .. Two hours ago. https://t.co/nCg2IDYNRR
— Meagan Good (@MeaganGood) July 7, 2016
How is it before I lay down to sleep it happens again. #FalconHeights I HAVE NO WORDS.
— Danielle Brooks (@thedanieb) July 7, 2016
We should not have to jump through hoops to prove black people shouldn’t be shot by police during routine traffic stops.
— John Legend (@johnlegend) July 7, 2016
We have fucking video proof and some of you still are all “well, uh, he shouldn’t have moved his left leg so provocatively”.
— John Legend (@johnlegend) July 7, 2016
So many people work so hard to find a reason why executing a human being during a routine traffic stop is ok. IT’S NOT OK
— John Legend (@johnlegend) July 7, 2016