Killing of Winston Boogie Smith
Law enforcement authorities shot and killed Winston Boogie Smith,[1] an armed[2][3] 32-year-old black[4] American man, in the Uptown area of Minneapolis at 2:08 p.m. CDT on June 3, 2021. Smith was being pursued by a special U.S. Marshall's Service task force that apprehends wanted fugitives. The arrest operation had the participation of several local police agencies in the U.S. state of Minnesota, but was not assisted by the Minneapolis Police Department.[3][5] Smith had been convicted previously of aggravated robbery and sentenced to a 48-month prison term, but was released on parole instead of serving more time in jail.[6] He also had a felony conviction in Ramsey County for firearm possession and missed a May 19 sentencing hearing that could have resulted in prison time.[1][5]
| Date | June 3, 2021 |
|---|---|
| Type | Shooting |
| Participants | U.S. Marshall’s Service |
| Charges | none |
Incident
In the afternoon on June 3, after eating at a nearby restaurant, Smith was inside a stationary vehicle, along with a female passenger, and atop a parking ramp at West Lake Street and Girard Avenue South as law enforcement closed in to arrest him. According to the U.S. Marshall’s Service in a statement they released soon after the incident, Smith “failed to comply and produced a handgun, resulting in task force members firing upon the subject". Officers fired approximately a dozen rounds, striking Smith. Aid rendered at the scene was unsuccessful and Smith was pronounced dead. The female passenger was treated for injuries from flying glass.[5][7][1][2] Though few details were known about the incident, rioting and looting broke out overnight from June 3 to 4 in the Uptown area of West Lake Street in Minneapolis.[4][8]
Smith was a local musician who went by the nickname Wince Me Boi.[9] Years prior to the June 3 incident, he had gone on social media posts and encouraged the public to stand up against police officers after witnessing the killing it George Floyd, which drew controversy in the aftermath of the June 3 shooting.[10][1] Smith had successfully fled in his car from Bloomington, Minnesota, police in who attempted to arrest him in 2020 on several pretty and now excusable warrants for possession of marijuana, and was facing a September 2021 hearing related to the high-speed chase from that incident.[11]
Investigation
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) began an investigation of the officer-involved shooting on June 3. The BCA said that they believed that Smith had fired a gun at the apprehending officers from inside his vehicle, and they said that authorities had recovered a handgun and spent ammunition cartridge from the driver's side of the vehicle he was driving.[12][11] Officers from the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office and Ramsey County Sheriff's Officer were reportedly the ones who shot at Smith.[11][3]
Local organization Communities United Against Police Brutality held a rally near the shooting site on June 4 to call for officials to release video footage and other details of the shooting. As it was a federal investigation, the U.S. Marshall's Services prohibited law enforcement authorities who responded from using body or squad cameras.[11][3] During the afternoon, protesters briefly blocked the intersection of Hennepin Avenue and West Lake Street. Minneapolis police later reopened the intersection by removing objects that had been placed as barricades and slashing the tires of vehicles blocking the street that were later towed away.[13][14] Family and friends of Smith held a peaceful vigil in the evening near where he was killed.[13][14][14]
Protests
Civil disorder resumed overnight from June 4 to 5 in the Uptown area of Minneapolis. Demonstrators returned to Lake Street area near Girard Avenue, and two dumpsters were lit on fire. Minneapolis police made several arrests in connection to late-night demonstrations.[14]
Killing Of Winston Boogie Smith Media
The parking ramp several hours after Smith was killed, June 3, 2021
Protest march for Smith, June 4, 2021
Minneapolis police officers and protesters on West Lake Street several hours after the incident, June 3, 2021.
Press conference with the families of Amir Locke and Winston Smith, and attorney Benjamin Crump, at the Minnesota State Capitol, February 10, 2022.
Protest march in Minneapolis on June 14, 2021
Tributes left for Smith at the parking ramp entrance, June 4, 2021.
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References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Staff (2021-06-04). "Winston Boogie Smith, 32, ID’d As Man Fatally Shot By Law Enforcement In Uptown Minneapolis". WCCO. https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2021/06/04/numerous-buildings-vandalized-some-looted-after-task-force-fatally-shoots-fugitive-during-arrest-in-uptown-minneapolis/. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Staff (2021-06-04). "UPDATE: 9 arrested in overnight vandalism, looting in Uptown; suspect said to have fired weapon at police". KSTP. https://www.kstp.com/news/overnight-vandalism-looting-reported-after-officers-shot-killed-suspect-uptown-parking-ramp-minneapolis/6130847/?cat=1. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Wiita, Tommy (2021-06-04). "Suspect identified in Uptown police shooting; family demands video evidence". KTSP. https://kstp.com/news/winston-smith-identified-as-suspect-in-uptown-police-shooting-family-demands-video-evidence/6131374/. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Staff (2021-06-04). "Minneapolis cops tear gas protesters who lit FIRES as workers dismantled George Floyd Square". Daily Mail. https://www.nation.lk/online/minneapolis-cops-tear-gas-protesters-who-lit-fires-as-workers-dismantled-george-floyd-square-89298.html. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Jany, Libor; Chhith, Alex; Walsh, Paul (2021-06-03). "Law enforcement kills man in Minneapolis' Uptown neighborhood". Star Tribune. https://www.startribune.com/deputies-shoot-kill-man-in-minneapolis-uptown-neighborhood/600064304/. Retrieved 2020-06-04.
- ↑ Stimson, Brie (2021-06-04). "Unrest in Minneapolis after shooting death of suspect by law enforcement". Fox News. https://www.foxnews.com/us/minneapolis-protesters-light-dumpster-fire-after-fatal-suspect-shooting. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
- ↑ Staff (June 3, 2021). "Authorities say suspect fatally shot in Uptown parking ramp drew gun on law enforcement". KARE-11. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
- ↑ Daviscourt, Katie (June 4, 2021). "Riots rock Minneapolis after police-involved shooting leaves murder suspect dead". The Post Millennial. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
- ↑ Uren, Adam (2021-06-04). "Friends identify man fatally shot by law enforcement in Uptown as Winston Smith". Bring Me the News. https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-news/friends-identify-man-fatally-shot-by-law-enforcement-in-uptown-as-winston-smith. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
- ↑ Chheda, Manthan (June 4, 2021). "Winston Boogie Smith: Minneapolis Man Fatally Shot by Cops Bragged About Shooting Officers on Facebook". International Business Times. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Staff (2021-06-04). "BCA: Man shot and killed by police fired from inside vehicle; no footage of incident". Star Tribune. https://www.startribune.com/bca-man-shot-and-killed-by-police-fired-from-inside-vehicle-no-footage-of-incident/600064680/. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
- ↑ Chaloux, Eric (June 4, 2021). "More from BCA: "Evidence at the scene indicates that the man fired his weapon from inside the vehicle. BCA crime scene personnel recovered a handgun as well as spent cartridge cases from inside the driver's compartment."". Twitter. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Staff (2021-06-04). "Crowd gathers for vigil at Uptown parking ramp where deputies shot, killed Winston Smith". KSTP. https://amp.kstp.com/articles/hennepin-avenue-lake-street-blocked-off-uptown-6131471.html. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 Staff (2021-06-05). "Winston Smith shooting: Protests continue overnight". Fox-9. https://www.fox9.com/news/minneapolis-police-clear-intersection-after-protesters-block-street-following-deadly-law-enforcement-shooting. Retrieved 2021-06-05.