Vigil, protests held over man killed by Minnesota deputies
Updated: 7:45 a.m., June 6 | Posted: 7:30 a.m., June 5
Protesters faced off with officers in Minneapolis early Saturday over the shooting death of a man by members of a U.S. Marshals task force.
Family, friends and protesters held a vigil and rally near where Winston Boogie Smith, 32, was killed. People placed flowers and candles at the site of the shooting.
Members of Smith’s family are demanding immediate release of any surrounding surveillance video.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension — which is investigating the shooting — said Friday that the deputies were part of the U.S. Marshals Service North Star fugitive task force, which "does not allow the use of body cameras."
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However, the U.S. Attorney’s Office released a statement Saturday pointing to a October 2020 policy change which “permit (task force officers) to utilize body-worn cameras on federal task forces.” They said the U.S. Marshals Service began to implement the new policy in February 2021.
The BCA said there is no squad car video of the shooting either.
“At this point, we just need justice. We need cameras. We need whatever. We need all that ASAP,” said Taylor Lynn on Friday afternoon. Lynn said Smith was her best friend.
Photos following the vigil showed dumpster fires in the street and a line of officers standing guard. It was the second night of protests in response to the fatal shooting Thursday in Minneapolis' Uptown neighborhood.
Police said 27 people were arrested in the protest, with 26 accused of rioting and one facing a weapons charge. No injuries were reported. Some businesses sustained damage, police said.
Authorities said Friday that Smith was wanted on a weapons violation and fired a gun before two deputies shot him while he was inside a parked vehicle. Members of the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force were trying to arrest him on a warrant for allegedly being a felon in possession of a gun.
Family and friends described Smith as a father of three who was often harassed by police. They are demanding transparency in the investigation and have asked that anyone who might have video footage to come forward.
Police said some people vandalized buildings and stole from businesses after the shooting Thursday. Nine people were arrested on possible charges including suspicion of riot, assault, arson and damage to property.
The fatal shooting comes as Minneapolis has been on edge since the death of George Floyd just over a year ago, and the fatal shooting of Daunte Wright by an officer in nearby Brooklyn Center in April.
MPR News staff contributed to this report.