Four Minneapolis police officers were fired Tuesday after the detention and death of 47-year-old George Floyd — a scene that unfolded in a Facebook video showing a white officer kneeling on Floyd’s neck as he pleaded with police, “I can’t breathe.”
By Ryan Faircloth, Liz Navratil, Liz Sawyer and Matt McKinney Star
MINNEAPOLIS — Anger over the death of George Floyd under a police officer’s knee spilled into the streets of Minneapolis for a second night Wednesday, with a shooting death, widespread looting and a fire that shrouded the Lake Street neighborhood in smoke.
One person was fatally shot in the area where the protest was taking place late Wednesday, possibly by a pawnshop owner who said the person was looting his business.
In a news conference early Thursday, police spokesman John Elder said two officers responded to the scene outside Cadillac Pawn & Jewelry at 1538 E. Lake Street and administered first aid to the wounded man until medics arrived. He was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center, where he died.
One person is in custody in relation to the death, Elder said. Many witnesses were declining to cooperate with police investigators, he said.
“The facts of what led up to the shooting are still being sorted out. We are truly in the infancy of this investigation,” Elder said.
He would not say whether the man shot was a looter. “That is one of the theories we are looking into, as we said the body was found outside and we are looking into scenarios to see what happened,” he said.
Wednesday night’s protest violence represented an escalation over Tuesday’s incidents, Elder said.
A video posted to Twitter by user @FindingNovyon showed a paramedic performing CPR on a man lying on the sidewalk as other medics urged protesters to keep their distance and flash-bangs are heard in the background.
“There’s somebody in there with a rifle, back up! Back up!” one of the medics can be seen saying on the video.
A spokesman for Gov. Tim Walz’s office said late Wednesday that 50 to 60 State Patrol troopers will be called in to help Minneapolis police. There was as yet no plan to call out the National Guard.
Meanwhile, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said that he has asked Walz to consider calling in the Guard.
“Please, please, Minneapolis,” Frey told a Star Tribune reporter just before midnight. “We cannot let tragedy beget more tragedy. The activity around Lake and Hiawatha is now unsafe. Please, help us keep the peace.…
“Yes, we’re reeling,” he continued. “I understand the anger and pain, and we need the public’s help in keeping the peace tonight. We need that in order to get through this together.
“I love our city. I know our residents do too, and we need to be doing everything possible to not have one tragedy beget more.”
Frey said he has been in constant contact with Walz’s office, Police Chief Medaria Arradondo and community leaders.
Most of the violence stemmed from a large crowd that gathered outside Minneapolis’ Third Precinct police headquarters, throwing objects at the building and officers and turning more violent as the night wore on. Police deployed rubber bullets, flash bombs and tear gas to push them back.
The AutoZone Auto Parts store across from the Third Precinct was set afire. As some protesters tried to extinguish the fire, others danced gleefully in front of the flames and smoke, snapping selfies.
Fired police Officer Derek Chauvin and three other officers who were at the scene of Floyd’s death Monday night were associated with the Third Precinct.
At the nearby Lake Street Target store, looters were seen leaving with items ranging from large TVs to clothing to groceries. Looting also occurred at Minnehaha Lake Wine & Spirits and at many other businesses in the area. A Star Tribune reporter at the scene reported every window smashed in a strip mall of businesses, and cars loaded with looted goods leaving the scene.
