Mayor: Federal Investigation Sought after Minneapolis Officer-Involved Shooting

Activists, who said Jamar Clark was unarmed and handcuffed when he was shot in the head on Sunday, blocked the entrance of a police precinct following the shooting and briefly flooded an interstate late on Monday, demanding that authorities release video of the incident.

BCA Superintendent Drew Evans said at a news conference Tuesday that investigators have video from several sources, including an ambulance, a mobile police camera stationed in the area, public housing cameras and citizens’ cellphones.

Sunday night, protesters in the streets of North Minneapolis left two cop cars with their windows smashed in and tires slashed. A “physical altercation” ensued between the paramedics and the suspect when the police officers arrived according to Deputy Chief Folkens. The police don’t care, the mayor don’t care, the police (chief) don’t care because they’re going to cover up for each other.

Black Lives Matter protesters have been demonstrating in the city. At a few point, an officer fired his weapon, hitting the man. Police said the man was not handcuffed, but a few witnesses claimed he was.

Authorities said their first advice revealed the guy, a defendant in an assault, wasn’t handcuffed. Police did not immediately provide more information about the incident and a representative from the criminal apprehension bureau did not immediately respond to requests for comment. This young man was in handcuffs.

Schweigart said police were able to clear the highway without force, but squad cars were damaged by rocks and bottles and one officer was slightly injured after being punched in the face by a protester, who later fled the scene.

“When the Minneapolis police got out of the auto, they each took an arm, they arrested him, put him on the ground, the EMS commander put his knee on the man’s chest, which is Jamar, and as soon as he put his knee on his chest, all you hear is the gunshot”, she said.

The two officers involved in the shooting are on paid leave, which is standard procedure. Police have said the man who was shot was the suspect of an assault and was interfering when paramedics were aiding the victim.

Raeisha Williams with the Minneapolis NAACP told the AP protesters plan to stay at the precinct until the names of the officers involved are released.

“Unless the community steps up to help us out, it will continue”.

Police say there was a struggle when they tried to arrest Clark early Sunday morning.

Demonstrators confront Minneapolis police officers outside the 4th Precinct station on Sunday night. She expressed faith in the state investigation but said the city needs “all the tools we have available to us”.

A federal civil rights investigation would not preempt the ongoing investigation by the state’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

Clark, who is Black, was killed by Minneapolis police.

The group gained prominence after the police shooting of a black teenager in Ferguson, Missouri, in 2014. Authorities say their aggression was instigated by Flowers.

The rocky relations have led to discussions between police and minorities and the creation of task forces to address concerns. A special civilian review authority was formed after the death of an elderly black couple during a botched drug raid decades ago.

“I want to acknowledge that this is a very hard situation for everyone involved: For members of our community, members of the Minneapolis Police Department and their families, and for the people that are standing here beside me”, said Harteau.