Diamond Reynolds, girlfriend of Philando Castile, accused of assault with a hammer
Diamond Reynolds, whose boyfriend was shot to death by a police officer as she sat next to him with her daughter in the back seat, was charged Friday in an alleged attack on a woman on St. Paul's east side. Prosecutors say Reynolds, 27, and two other women, a 25-year-old, and an 18-year-old, assaulted the woman after they spotted her vehicle and followed her Tuesday around 10:30 a.m.
Last July, Reynolds' boyfriend, Philando Castile, died after being shot several times by St. Anthony police officer Jeronimo Yanez. Reynolds talked to the officer and described what happened on Facebook Live. The video went viral almost immediately, and sparked protests near the Governor's residence in St. Paul.
Yanez is scheduled to go on trial at the end of May.
In a criminal complaint filed by Washington County prosecutors, the 24-year-old victim told St. Paul investigators she was driving near Johnson Parkway and Magnolia Avenue when a silver SUV made a U-turn to follow her. She pulled into Jessamine Lane. She said Reynolds and another woman came at her and Reynolds punched her in the head. At some point in the scuffle, the victim said Reynolds hit her in the head with a hammer and smashed her vehicle's windshield.
The victim was taken to Regions Hospital. The criminal complaint said she identified the three women from photo lineups. St. Paul police say Reynolds was arrested on Thursday.
The Ramsey County Attorney, citing a conflict, referred the case to Washington County. The Ramsey County Attorney is prosecuting the Yanez case.
Create a More Connected Minnesota
MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.