Cop’s attorney: He thought Philando Castile was a robbery suspect
The attorney for a police officer charged in the killing of Philando Castile ways the officer believed he was a robbery suspect.
(AP Photo/Jim Mone)
…Castile had no felony record and authorities have not said he was a suspect in any crime.
But attorney Thomas Kelly tells the Star Tribune newspaper that Officer Jeronimo Yanez thought the 32-year-old Castile looked like someone police had been seeking in a recent robbery.
Castile’s girlfriend was in the vehicle. She has said Castile was reaching for his wallet when he was shot, after telling officers he had a gun and a permit for it.
Kelly told The Associated Press that Yanez was reacting to the seeing that gun when he drew his own weapon.
D.B. Hirsch is a political activist, news junkie, and retired ad copy writer and spin doctor. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.