'Black Lives Matter' Cases: What Ended Up Happening After Controversial Police Killings
CNN/Stylemagazine.com Newswire | 6/27/2017, 7:05 a.m.
By Holly Yan
CNN
(CNN) -- Once again, a police officer has been acquitted after killing a black man -- but the officer's employer is shelling out millions of dollars to the family.
This time, it's happening in the case of Philando Castile, whose final moments were broadcast by his girlfriend on Facebook Live. On Monday, lawyers announced a $3 million settlement between the Castile family and St. Anthony, Minnesota, the city that employed the officer acquitted in Castile's death.
While officer convictions are rare, killings that have spawned "Black Lives Matter" protests have led to notable outcomes -- including settlements to stave off civil lawsuits and changes to police policy. Here's how some of the most high-profile cases have turned out:
Philando Castile, 32
Date of death: July 6, 2016
Where: Falcon Heights, Minnesota
What happened: St. Anthony police Officer Jeronimo Yanez pulled Castile over during a traffic stop. Castile told the officer he had a firearm on him, which he was permitted to carry. Castile reached for something and Yanez shot him five times. During the Facebook Live video, Castile's girlfriend said he was reaching for his license; the officer later said he thought Castile was reaching for his gun.
The outcomes: Yanez was acquitted of second-degree manslaughter, but the city of St. Anthony settled with Castile's mother for $3 million.
"The settlement will be paid through the City's coverage with the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust. No taxpayer monies from the City of St. Anthony Village will be used to fund this settlement," a joint statement from the city and the Castile family said.
By reaching a settlement, the Castile family and St. Anthony avoid "a federal civil rights lawsuit which may have taken years to work its way through the courts exacerbating the suffering of the family and of the community," the statement said.
Jordan Edwards, 15
Date of death: April 29, 2017
Where: Balch Springs, Texas
What happened: Officers responded to a house party after reports of underage drinking. Police spotted a car leaving with five people inside.
Officer Roy Oliver fired into the car with a rifle, fatally shooting Jordan, who was sitting in the front passenger seat.
Police Chief Jonathan Haber initially said the car had been moving "aggressively" toward officers. Later, Haber corrected himself and said body camera footage showed the car was driving forward -- away from the officers.
The outcomes: Haber fired the officer, saying Oliver "violated several departmental policies." Oliver was arrested in May and charged with first degree murder.
Meanwhile, Jordan's classmates at Mesquite High School grieved the loss of the beloved football player and straight-A student.
Alton Sterling, 37
Date of death: July 5, 2016
Where: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
What happened: Sterling was selling CDs outside a convenience store when police received a call of a man with a gun. Cellphone video showed police tackling Sterling and pinning him to the ground before Sterling was shot. Police said Sterling was reaching for a gun.
The outcomes: Federal prosecutors said they didn't have enough evidence to file charges against Baton Rouge police officers Blane Salamoni and Howie Lake II.
Minutes later, the Louisiana attorney general announced the state will launch an investigation to see whether the officers should face state criminal charges.
But Sterling's death has sparked change in the city. Baton Rouge Mayor Sharon Weston Broome said $2 million will be spent securing body cameras for the entire police force. On top of that, the city's police training manual will be revised, and officers will receive training in implicit bias, the mayor said.
Walter Scott, 50
Date of death: April 4, 2015
Where: North Charleston, South Carolina
What happened: Officer Michael Slager pulled Scott over for a broken taillight. Scott bolted out of his car, though it's not clear why. His family attorney speculated that Scott's flight stemmed from his unpaid child support "and a fear of maybe going back (to jail)."
As Scott ran away from the officer, a witness captured video of Slager shooting Scott several times in the back.
The outcomes: Slager was fired and indicted on a state murder charge and federal charges, including misleading investigators and excessive use of force.
The state murder trial ended in a mistrial. But Slager admitted to using excessive force as part of a federal plea deal.
In exchange for his guilty plea on one of the federal counts -- punishable by up to life in prison -- two other federal charges and state charges were dropped.
Scott's death also led to a statewide change: the South Carolina Legislature passed a bill mandating the use of police body cameras.
And the North Charleston City Council agreed to a $6.5 million settlement with Scott's family.
Trayvon Martin, 17
Date of death: February 26, 2012
Where: Sanford, Florida
What happened: Martin was walking from a convenience store back to the home of his father's fiancée. Neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman spotted him from his car and called 911, reporting "a real suspicious guy."
"This guy looks like he's up to no good, or he's on drugs or something," Zimmerman told a dispatcher. "It's raining, and he's just walking around."
A scuffle broke out, but there were no direct witnesses. Zimmerman claimed Martin attacked him, hitting him in the nose and knocking him onto the pavement. Zimmerman said he then took out his gun and shot Martin in self defense.
But critics said Zimmerman was unjustified in confronting the unarmed teen, especially since Zimmerman didn't heed a police dispatcher's advice to stop following him.
The outcomes: Zimmerman was charged with second-degree murder but was found not guilty. The acquittal ignited protests across the country, and the "Black Lives Matter" movement gained national prominence.
The case also led to the firing of Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee, who was criticized for not arresting Zimmerman after Martin was killed.
Eric Garner, 43
Date of death: July 17, 2014
Where: New York City
What happened: Police tried to arrest Garner in front of a store for allegedly selling cigarettes illegally. Garner raised both hands and told officers not to touch him. Seconds later, Officer Daniel Pantaleo grabbed the 350-pound man in a chokehold and pulled him to the sidewalk, rolling him onto his stomach.
The New York Police Department prohibits the use of chokeholds.
Garner, who had asthma, repeatedly said, "I can't breathe! I can't breathe!" while several officers restrained him on the ground. Police said he suffered a heart attack and died en route to a hospital.
The outcomes: A grand jury declined to indict Pantaleo, sparking protests and "die-ins."
Garner's death also spurred a new protest slogan: "I can't breathe," some of the last words Garner said before he died. Several professional athletes wore shirts saying "I can't breathe" in silent protest.
Pantaleo offered his condolences to Garner's family and said he never intended to hurt Garner. The police union defended Pantaleo, saying he just wanted to take Garner into custody after the suspect resisted.
New York City eventually settled with Garner's family for $5.9 million. City Comptroller Scott Stringer said the settlement "acknowledges the tragic nature of Mr. Garner's death," but "the city has not admitted liability."
Michael Brown, 18
Date of death: August 9, 2014
Where: Ferguson, Missouri
What happened: Brown was walking with a friend in the middle of a street when Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson approached them and told them to walk on the sidewalk.
After that, the narratives split. Authorities said Brown attacked the officer in his car and tried to take his gun. Other witnesses said the teenager was surrendering, his hands in the air to show he was unarmed, when the officer opened fire.
Documents showed that Wilson fired his gun 12 times.
The outcomes: A grand jury decided not to indict Wilson -- leading to heated and sometimes violent protests in Ferguson and across the country.
A few days later, Wilson resigned from the Ferguson Police Department.
Despite the lack of criminal charges, the Michael Brown case launched a series of reforms. A federal investigation revealed a pattern of abuse by Ferguson's mostly white police force against the city's majority black residents.
The Justice Department found that "many officers" apparently viewed some of the city's black residents "less as constituents to be protected than as potential offenders and sources of revenue."
Black residents were ticketed and cited for minor violations at a higher rate than white residents, the Justice Department said. The investigation also found a spate of racist emails sent by some police and court officials.
After the scathing Justice Department report, Ferguson police Chief Thomas Jackson resigned, and the Justice Department sued Ferguson to force police reform in the city.
Freddie Gray, 25
Date of death: April 19, 2015, seven days after he was injured
Where: Baltimore
What happened: An officer on bike patrol made eye contact with Gray, and Gray fled. Police later found a knife in Gray's pocket and arrested him on a weapons charge.
Officers handcuffed Gray and put him in a police van. At some point, Gray suffered a fatal spinal cord injury. He died seven days later.
Gray's death prompted riots, looting and arson in Baltimore.
The outcomes: Six Baltimore police officers, including three black and three white officers, were charged in connection with Gray's death.
Three officers were acquitted: Edward Nero, a bike officer involved in the initial police encounter with Gray; Caesar Goodson, who drove the van; and Lt. Brian Rice, the highest-ranking officer charged in connection with Gray's death.
Prosecutors dropped charges against the three remaining officers: Garrett Miller; Alicia White and William Porter.
Aside from the criminal trials, Baltimore officials approved a $6.4 million deal to settle all civil claims tied to Gray's death.
The settlement did not "represent any judgment" on whether the officers were guilty or innocent, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said.
"This settlement represents an opportunity to bring closure to the Gray family, the community and the city."
CNN's Jennifer Henderson contributed to this report.