MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- A Minnesota agency is investigating the shooting by a
Minneapolis police officer of a black man suspected in an assault, an incident
that sparked protests and prompted a community forum with the mayor and police
chief.
Accounts from some witnesses that the man was handcuffed when he was shot early
Sunday morning led to outrage. Police said their preliminary investigation
shows the man was not handcuffed, but the investigation is ongoing.
A large, agitated crowd gathered at the scene and demonstrations endured
throughout the day. Witnesses said police used a chemical irritant to subdue
the protesters. About 10 protesters spent a rainy and windy Sunday night
outside a police precinct station not far from the scene of the shooting, and
vowed to stay until the officer was arrested or indicted.
Jason Sole, chair of the Minneapolis NAACP's criminal justice committee, said
Sunday that many black residents of north Minneapolis are upset.
"We have been saying for a significant amount of time that Minneapolis is one
bullet away from Ferguson," he said, referring to the police shooting last year
in the St. Louis suburb that prompted nationwide protests. "That bullet was
fired last night. We want justice immediately," Sole told Minnesota Public
Radio News.
The shooting happened after police said they were called to north Minneapolis
around 12:45 a.m. Sunday for a report of an assault. When they arrived, the man
had returned and was interfering with paramedics who were assisting the victim,
police said. Officers tried to calm him, but there was a struggle. At some
point, an officer fired at least once, hitting the man, police said.
Authorities have not released any information on the officer, including name
and race. Authorities have also declined to release the name of the man who was
shot, but the Minneapolis NAACP cited family members and witnesses in
identifying him as Jamar Clark.
Martez McKnight, 22, told The Associated Press that Clark, his uncle, was put
on life support after he was taken to a hospital.
"The family is heartbroken and traumatized by the whole event," McKnight said.
A statement Sunday night from state Rep. Raymond Dehn, who represents the area,
said Clark was on life support.
Police and a spokeswoman for the Hennepin County Medical Center said they could
not comment on the man's condition.
Protesters organized by the group Black Lives Matter Minneapolis marched
through the streets Sunday afternoon. Some beat drums and others carried
banners. The group went to a police precinct, where they banged on the door and
demanded to be allowed inside.
Raeisha Williams with the Minneapolis NAACP told the AP protesters plan to stay
at the precinct until the names of the officers involved are released.
Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges and police Chief Janee Harteau held a listening
session with the community Sunday evening.
Steven Belton, interim president and CEO of the Minneapolis Urban League, was
in attendance.
"There is so much anger and pain, and it's combined with a lack of
information," Belton said.
Harteau said after the meeting that "misinformation" is being spread about the
case, but she would not elaborate.
The chief said she has asked the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to
conduct an independent investigation.
"We need to know exactly what happened, we need to know the truth," she said.
"Everyone involved needs that and deserves that."
Two officers are on paid leave, standard practice after such an incident.
Drew Evans, BCA superintendent, said the agency wants to talk to anyone who saw
the shooting or might have video of it. When asked about the handcuffs, Evans
said there were handcuffs at the scene, but added that authorities are working
to determine the exact situation when the man was shot
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