DOJ may look into these cases as they probe Minneapolis policing
What the federal investigation is doing is assessing MPD’s uses of excessive force, examining if the department misrepresents interactions in its community and reviewing MPD’s “systems of accountability,” according to Attorney General Merrick Garland.
“The highest, the biggest profile cases in history have come from the state of Minnesota,” said Toshira Garraway Allen, founder of Families Supporting Families Against Police Violence, a group that supports families in Minnesota that have lost loved ones to police violence. “It is clear that it is a problem here in the state of Minnesota.”
Here are just some of the cases the Justice Department could include in their investigation:
Jamar Clark, fatally shot by police in 2015
Jamar Clark
Officer Dustin Schwarze shot Clark after Officer Mark Ringgenberg scuffled with Clark, according to a 2016 Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) investigation. Clark allegedly took control of the officer’s gun and Ringgenberg told Schwarze to open fire.
The shooting sparked weeks of protests, including an 18-day sit-in at a police station in the city’s north end.
An internal investigation by MPD concluded in 2016 that the two officers did not violate department policies and will not face discipline.
Philando Castile, fatally shot by police in 2016
Philando Castile.
The officer fired seven shots into Castile’s car after Castile said he had possession of a firearm.
Castile’s death garnered widespread attention — and sparked nationwide protests over the use of force by police — after his girlfriend broadcast the shooting’s aftermath on Facebook Live.
Justine Ruszczyk, fatally shot by police in 2017
Justine Ruszczyk.
Ruszczyk, who had relocated from her native Australia to Minneapolis to live with her fiancé, called 911 to report a possible sexual assault in an alley behind her house.
Former Minneapolis police officer Mohamed Noor and another officer responded to the scene, where Noor shot Ruszczyk. She was standing outside the driver’s side door, according to a criminal complaint.
Noor was convicted on charges of third-degree murder and manslaughter. He was sentenced to 12½ years in prison.
Thurman Blevins, fatally shot by police in 2018
Thurman Blevins.
Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said at the time the officers fired only after Blevins grabbed his loaded firearm and turned toward the officers. Based on evidence from the crime scene, interviews with witnesses, and police body-camera footage, Freeman said the officers were authorized to fatally shoot Blevins.
Neither of the officers involved in the shooting faced criminal charges.
Travis Jordan, fatally shot by police in 2018
In bodycam footage released by the Minneapolis Police Department, Travis Jordan can be seen exiting a house.
“When the officers arrived at the home … Jordan didn’t respond to their door knocking,” WCCO reported. “Body camera footage shows both officers pulling out their guns before Jordan opens the front porch door” holding a knife.
After he stepped toward the officers, they opened fire.
The Hennepin County Attorney’s office announced in January 2019 that the two officers involved in Jordan’s shooting were “justified in using deadly force.”
George Floyd, murdered by an officer in 2020
George Floyd.
Daunte Wright, fatally shot by police in 2021
Daunte Wright
CNN’s Eric Levenson, Amanda Watts, Melissa Alonso, Ralph Ellis, Bill Kirkos, Nicole Chavez, Adrienne Broaddus, Emma Tucker, Mark Morales and Priya Krishnakumar contributed to this report.
