A black man died shortly after a police officer was filmed kneeling on his neck as he pleaded that he could not breathe.
The man, who has not been identified, died on Monday night in Minneapolis, Minnesota in a hospital following the struggle with the officers.
Metro said police were initially called to investigate a report of a forgery at a business and found the man matching the suspect’s description in his car, police spokesman John Elder said.
“He was ordered to step from his car. After he got out, he physically resisted officers. Officers were able to get the suspect into handcuffs and noted he appeared to be suffering medical distress,” Elder said.
Consequently, four Minneapolis police officers were fired on Tuesday over the death of an unarmed black man seen in a video lying face down in the street, gasping for air and groaning, “I can’t breathe,” while a white officer knelt on his neck for several minutes.
Reuters said hours after the officers’ dismissals were announced, thousands of protesters filled the streets around the scene of Monday evening’s deadly incident in a boisterous but peaceful rally. Many in the crowd wore facial coverings to protect against spread of the coronavirus.
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But the gathering took an unruly turn around dusk as police in riot gear fired tear gas and non-lethal bean-bag rounds into the crowds while protesters hurled water bottles and other projectiles, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported.
“Why is the man who killed George Floyd not in jail? If you had done it or I had done it we would be behind bars right now,” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said during a news briefing. “I am calling on Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman … to charge the arresting officer in this case.”
