BCA to investigate police-involved shooting in Minneapolis
Updated: 5:08 p.m. | Posted: 3:08 p.m.
Minneapolis officials asked the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to investigate a police-involved shooting in the city. Police shot a man early Sunday morning.
Police say two officers have been placed on routine administrative leave in the wake of the shooting.
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Police said the man was shot during a scuffle on the 1600 block of Plymouth Avenue North when officers reportedly tried to stop him from interfering with a paramedic crew.
A statement issued by the department said that police tried to intervene and a fight started. Police said that at some point during the struggle an officer fired at least once, hitting the man.
Witnesses said the man was handcuffed when he was shot. Police say he was not.
Nekelia Sharp, who lives in the 1600 block of Plymouth Avenue North, said she saw police place the man in handcuffs.
"One officer snatched one arm; the other grabbed the other arm. They instantly put him in cuffs and slammed him to the ground," she said. "This young man was in handcuffs. He did not resist. There was not a struggle," she said.
Witnesses also said the man died at the scene. Police said the man was being treated at Hennepin County Medical Center.
Police have not released the man's name nor his medical condition.
James Clark, who attended a march to protest the shooting on Sunday, identified the victim as his adopted son, Jamar Clark, 24.
The Minneapolis chapter of the NAACP and Black Lives Matter-Minneapolis organized the march.
Mayor Betsy Hodges and Police Chief Janee Harteau planned a community listening session at the Minneapolis Urban League on Plymouth Avenue North.
Hodges said the city is taking the unusual step of asking for a state investigation.
"A serious incident happened last night. There will be an independent and thorough investigation by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. We don't know the timeline of that investigation, but it will be as expeditious as possible. And the investigators will follow the facts wherever they lead," she said.
Critics say they think the shooting has dangerously strained police and community relations.
Jason Sole, with the Minneapolis NAACP, said many black residents of north Minneapolis are upset.
"We have been saying for a significant amount of time that Minneapolis is one bullet away from Ferguson. That bullet was fired last night. We want justice immediately. We've been out here with the community. There are young people who witnessed this action. We want this cop fired. We want everything to fall down on the Minneapolis police department," he said.
Officials from the Minneapolis NAACP are asking the FBI to investigate the incident.
Correction (Dec. 2, 2015): This story has been updated to correct the age of Jamar Clark.