Second-by-second account of Philando Castile traffic stop, shooting
(KMSP) - The following details of the traffic stop and shooting of Philando Castile by Officer Jeronimo Yanez were transcribed in the criminal complaint charging Officer Yanez with second-degree manslaughter. This information is based on squad car video and audio recordings of the incident.
At 9:02:05 p.m. Yanez queried Castile’s license plate number. The query results showed that the vehicle was registered to Castile, it was not listed as stolen, and there were no warrants for his arrest. Yanez did not notify dispatchers that he was conducting the stop or that he suspected that a robbery suspect was in the vehicle.
At 9:04:49 p.m. Yanez activated his squad lights signaling Castile to pull over. Castile complied by immediately pulling over on the eastbound side Larpenteur Avenue, near Fry Street in Falcon Heights, Ramsey County, Minnesota. Approximately one minute later, Yanez shot Castile seven times, killing him.
The following is a summary of the events immediately preceding the shooting, based on squad car audio and video recordings of the stop.
9:05:00 p.m. Castile’s vehicle came to a complete stop next to the curb.
9:05:15 p.m. to 9:05:22 p.m. Yanez approached the driver's side of Castile’s vehicle. As he walked toward the vehicle, Yanez had his right hand on the right side of his duty belt near his gun. Castile was buckled in his seatbelt.
9:05:22 p.m. to 9:05:38 p.m. Yanez leaned down with his head near to and in front of the driver’s side window, exchanged greetings with Castile, and informed Castile of the brake light problem.
9:05:33 p.m. Kauser approached on the sidewalk on the passenger side of Castile’s vehicle, and stopped near the rear seat passenger door.
9:05:38 p.m. Yanez asked for Castile's driver's license and proof of insurance.
9:05:48 p.m. Castile provided Yanez with his proof of insurance card.
9:05:49 p.m. to 9:05:52 p.m. Yanez appeared to look at Castile’s insurance information and then tucked the card in his outer pocket.
9:05:52 p.m. to 9:05:55 p.m. Castile calmly informed Yanez, "Sir, I have to tell you that I do have a firearm on me." Before Castile completed the sentence, Yanez interrupted and calmly replied, "Okay" and placed his right hand on the holster of his own holstered gun.
9:05:55 p.m. to 9:06:02 p.m. Yanez said, "Okay, don't reach for it, then.” Castile responded: “I’m…I’m...[inaudible] reaching…” before being again interrupted by Yanez, who said "Don't pull it out." Castile responded “I’m not pulling it out,” and Reynolds also said “He's not pulling it out.” Yanez screamed "Don't pull it out" and quickly pulled his own gun with his right hand while he reached inside the driver's side window with his left hand. Yanez removed his left arm from the car, then fired seven shots in the direction of Castile in rapid succession. The seventh shot was fired at 9:06:02 p.m. During the incident, Kauser did not touch or remove his gun.
9:06:03 p.m. to 9:06:04p.m. Reynolds yelled, “You just killed my boyfriend!”
9:06:04 p.m. to 9:06:05 p.m. Castile moaned and said, “I wasn't reaching for it.”
9:06:05 p.m. to 9:06:09 p.m. Reynolds loudly said, “He wasn’t reaching for it.” Before she completed her sentence, Yanez again screamed, “Don’t pull it out!" Reynolds responded "He wasn’t.” Yanez yelled, "Don't move! F---!"