Protests erupted in Minneapolis on Wednesday night after police shot and killed a man during a traffic stop on the south side of the city, officials said.
According to Minneapolis police, the exchange of fire occurred after police stopped the man suspected of a crime at a gas station at around 6:15 pm. The driver, who was not immediately identified, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The police murder was the first in the city since the death of George Floyd on May 25, which sparked unrest, riots and protests across the country earlier this year. Floyd died after a policeman knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes.
Wednesday’s shooting occurred about a kilometer away from where Floyd died.
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The scene in Minneapolis after a man was shot and killed by the police, December 30, 2020. (Associated Press)
At a news conference on Wednesday, police chief Medaria Arradondo said the suspect fired first and that “the officers exchanged fire,” according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Authorities said no police officers were injured during the shooting and that a woman in the vehicle with the suspect was also unharmed, according to reports. A bullet hole was seen in a vehicle at the scene.
After the shooting, more than 100 protesters gathered in the area, many shouting obscenities at the police, throwing snowballs at the police and demanding more information about the shooting.
Arradondo pleaded with residents to remain at peace and said he would act quickly to release images from the body camera – potentially on Thursday.
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“As chief, I recognize the trauma that our city has been experiencing and we want to do everything in our power to keep the peace,” said Arradondo, according to the newspaper. “Our city has been through a lot. We need to keep our policemen safe, we need to keep our community safe, and I tell you, we need to preserve the crime scene.”
“Please allow me, (state) investigators, give us time, we will get the evidence, get the facts, so that we can process this,” he continued.
The shooting comes amid requests to withdraw money from the police department after Floyd’s death. Earlier this month, the Minneapolis City Council unanimously approved a budget that will transfer about $ 8 million from the police department for violence prevention and mental health programs.
It also occurs amid an increase in violent crime this year in the city.
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Police spokesman John Elder said the officers involved were members of the Community Response Team (CRT), which focuses on high-crime areas. He added that the officers involved were all isolated and awaiting an interview, according to the Star Tribune.