ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has released the names of the two officers involved in the fatal shooting of a 32-year-old black man during a traffic stop Wednesday night.
They are identified as Officer Jeronimo Yanez and Officer Joseph Kauser. Both have been with the St. Anthony Police Department for four years.
The BCA says Yanez was the officer who shot Philando Castile multiple times.
The traffic stop was near the intersection of Larpenteur Avenue West and Fry Street in Falcon Heights around 9:05 p.m. Wednesday.
Authorities say Officer Yanez approached the vehicle from the driver’s side and Officer Kauser from the passenger side. According to police, at one point during the interaction, Officer Yanez discharged his weapon, striking Castile multiple times. A gun was recovered at the scene.
Authorities say Officer Yanez called for an ambulance. There were two passengers in the vehicle, Diamond Reynolds and her daughter.
Additional crews from the Roseville Police Department and St. Paul Fire Department removed Castile from the vehicle and provided medical attention until the ambulance arrived.
Castile was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center where he was later pronounced dead.
Law enforcement personnel transported Reynolds and her daughter to the Roseville Police Department, where Reynolds gave a statement to investigators about the incident.
The BCA investigation into this incident is ongoing. Interviews with witnesses are ongoing and several videos, including squad car video of the incident, have been collected as evidence. St. Anthony Police Department officers do not wear body cameras. The BCA requests that any member of the public who witnessed the shooting contact the BCA at 651-793-7000.
Once the investigation is complete, the BCA will turn its findings over to the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office without recommendation for review under Minnesota statutes.
