Why Minnesota BCA isn't releasing Jamar Clark shooting video

MINNEAPOLIS (KMSP) - The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension confirmed they have several sources of video related to the shooting death of 24-year-old Jamar Clark in Minneapolis early Sunday morning, but say they will not release the footage due to the ongoing investigation. 

Clark was shot in the head during a confrontation with Minneapolis police outside an apartment on the 1600 block of Plymouth Avenue North shortly after midnight on Sunday. Police say preliminary reports indicate Clark was not handcuffed, but witnesses have disputed that claim and say he was in handcuffs and unarmed.

Agents have obtained videos from the ambulance on the scene, a police camera and several public housing authority cameras in the area and from witnesses who captured the incident on their cell phones, Minnesota BCA superintendent Drew Evans said at a press conference Tuesday afternoon. No body or dash camera video was taken during the incident.

Evans said none of the videos agents have received so far have captured the incident in its entirety.

The BCA will not release the videos, despite pleas from protestors, because it does not want to compromise the integrity of their external investigation.

“[We] don’t want to taint the interviews that may be ongoing with witnesses in this case and by having the videos being public we may potentially taint portions of the investigation,” Evans said.

Evans confirmed handcuffs were found at the scene. 

“We’re still examining whether [the handcuffs] were on Mr Clark or if they just fell out at the scene. That’s what we are trying to assert.”

Evans did not confirm whether Clark was unarmed, but said there were no weapons found at the scene.

BCA agents are arranging interviews with the officers involved in the shooting. The officers involved are currently on paid administrative leave and will not be identified until they have spoken with investigators.

The investigation, which has been given top priority, is expected to take two to four months. Once the investigation is complete, the BCA will present their findings to the Hennepin County attorney's office for review and they will determine how to proceed with the case. 

The BCA is asking anyone who has additional video of the deadly confrontation to contact the bureau at 651-793-7000.