The family of Philando Castile — a black man who was shot and killed during a traffic stop last summer — has reached a $3 million settlement with the city of St. Anthony Village, Minn.
Both parties announced the settlement in a joint statement on Monday, less than two weeks after police officer Jeronimo Yanez was acquitted of second-degree manslaughter and two counts of intentional discharge of a firearm that endangers safety.
“Under the terms of the settlement, Valerie Castile, as Trustee, will receive a payment in the amount of $2.995 million,” the statement reads. “The settlement will be paid through the city’s coverage with the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust.”
Yanez, who is Latino, pulled over Castile on July 6, 2016, during a traffic stop for a broken taillight. He soon after shot Castile — who was in the car with his girlfriend and his girlfriend’s daughter — seven times as he reached for his wallet. Castile had told the officer he was armed and licensed to be.
Diamond Reynolds, Castile’s girlfriend, live-streamed the aftermath of the shooting on Facebook Live, causing it to become a major national news story and prompting protests nationwide.
Just last week, new dashboard camera video was released of the shooting.
No taxpayer money from the city of St. Anthony Village will be used in the settlement, the statement notes.
Castile’s family intends to “deal with their loss through the important work of the Philando Castile Relief Foundation,” a new non-profit to help gun violence victims.
“The important work of healing our community continues. The city of St. Anthony Village reaffirms its commitment to transforming its police department in partnership with the United States Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services,” the statement reads. “Through the Collaborative Reform Initiative, the city and residents are working to improve trust between the police department and the communities it serves.”
