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U.S. NEWS Tuesday 27 June 2017
Philando Castile’s family reaches $3M settlement in death

By AMY FORLITI ily will continue to deal with
Associated Press their loss through the impor-
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The tant work of the Philando
mother of Philando Castile, Castile Relief Foundation.”
a black motorist killed by Bennett said the founda-
a Minnesota police officer tion’s mission is to provide
last July, has reached a financial support, grief
nearly $3 million settlement counseling, scholarships
with the city that employed and other help to individu-
the officer, avoiding a fed- als and families affected by
eral wrongful death lawsuit gun violence and police
that attorneys said could violence.
have taken years to re- Bennett said his decades-
solve. long relationship with Joe
The settlement to be paid Flynn, the attorney who
to Valerie Castile, who is represented St. Anthony
the family’s trustee, was in Castile’s case, helped
announced Monday and bring a quick resolution. He
comes less than two weeks also said the city of St. An-
after officer Jeronimo In this Friday June 16, 2017 photo, Valerie Castile, mother of Philando Castile, a black motorist thony has a commitment
Yanez was acquitted of who was killed by Officer Jeronimo Yanez, speaks about her reaction to a not guilty verdict for to make positive changes
manslaughter and other Yanez at the Ramsey County Courthouse in St. Paul, Minn. Valerie Castile reached a nearly $3 to their police department.
charges connected to her million settlement in Philando Castile’s death, announced Monday, June 26, by attorneys for The status of that separa-
son’s death. Valerie Castile and the city of St. Anthony. (Renee Jones Schneider/Star Tribune via AP) tion is unknown. Messages
Castile, a 32-year-old el- left with the city were not
ementary school cafeteria aftermath on Facebook. St. Anthony. The plan for cess that would “exacer- immediately returned.
worker, was shot five times The acquittal of Yanez, who distribution of funds requires bate and reopen terrible Monday’s joint statement
by Yanez during a traffic is Latino, prompted days approval by a state court, wounds.” said no taxpayer money
stop after Castile informed of protests, including one which could take several The settlement will also al- will be used to fund Valerie
the officer he was armed. in St. Paul that shut down weeks. low the family, the city and Castile’s settlement. The
Castile had a permit for his Interstate 94 for hours and Robert Bennett, who along community to work toward League of Minnesota Cit-
gun. The shooting gained ended with 18 arrests. with attorney Glenda healing, Bennett said. ies Insurance Trust is a co-
widespread attention af- The $2.995 million settle- Hatchett is representing “No amount of money operative in which Minne-
ter Castile’s girlfriend, who ment for Valerie Castile will Valerie Castile, said a de- could ever replace Philan- sota cities contribute pre-
was in the car with her be paid by the League of cision was made to move do,” a joint statement from miums into a jointly owned
then-4-year-old daughter, Minnesota Cities Insurance expeditiously rather than the attorneys and city of St. risk pool that is used to pay
livestreamed its gruesome Trust, which holds the insur- have the case drawn out Anthony said. “With resolu- claims.q
ance policy for the city of in federal court, a pro- tion of the claims the fam-
Police officer fatally shoots

suspect; family wants video

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. happened as it appeared
(AP) — Heyward was trying to run
The family of a man killed away, the report said.
by an officer working for a The State Law Enforcement
South Carolina police de- Division is investigating, and
partment that received spokesman Thom Berry said
heavy scrutiny in a fatal it wasn’t clear yet whether
shooting two years ago any dashboard, body or
wants any video of the lat- surveillance camera cap-
est shooting released soon. tured the shooting.
Local and state investi- Heyward’s family said he
gators said it appeared was a working, family-ori-
Lawrence Heyward Jr. ented man who had eight
was killed after shooting daughters and turned 56
at Police Lt. Richard Keys, years old last week.
who said he saw him en- North Charleston police
tering and leaving a North fired Slager immediately
Charleston convenience after he was charged with
store wearing a mask murder in the shooting of
around 11:30 p.m. Sunday Walter Scott more than two
before quickly driving off. years ago.
Keys told investigators that His state trial on a murder
dispatchers told him about charge ended in a hung
the armed robbery at the jury.
store as Heyward left wear- But Slager pleaded guilty
ing the mask, according to in federal court earlier this
a police report. year to violating Scott’s civ-
There was a short car il rights and is behind bars
chase and the shooting awaiting sentencing.q