'Life Cut Down Too Soon': Hillary Clinton On Philando Castile Shooting
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton said Thursday morning that the country "woke up to yet another tragedy" as news that a black man was fatally shot by a Minnesota police officer spread on social media.
The prospective Democratic nominee for the White House tweeted the following around 11:30 a.m.:
America woke up to yet another tragedy of a life cut down too soon. Black Lives Matter. #PhilandoCastile -H
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) July 7, 2016
Philando Castile, of St. Paul, was the victim of a shooting late Wednesday night in Falcon Heights, a suburb of St. Paul, his relatives say. The 32-year-old was shot during a traffic stop when he was in a car with his girlfriend and a child.
Related: Police Fatally Shoot Man During Traffic Stop
A graphic Facebook Live video captured the aftermath of the shooting, showing Castile bloodied and slumping in his seat. In the video, Castile's girlfriend says Castile was shot multiple times "for no apparent reason" after he told the officer he was armed and had a permit to carry.
The video spread rapidly on social media before being taken down by Facebook.
Castile was a cafeteria worker at J.J. Hill Montessori School, his relatives say.
Gov. Mark Dayton has called for a federal investigation into his death.