Diamond Reynolds reaches $800,000 settlements in Castile shooting
Updated: Nov. 29, 5:56 a.m. | Posted: Nov. 28, 10:59 p.m.
Diamond Reynolds has reached legal settlements totaling $800,000 in connection to the shooting death of her boyfriend Philando Castile by a St. Anthony police officer last year.
The St. Anthony City Council on Tuesday night approved a settlement of $675,000 and disclosed an additional $125,000 settlement reached on behalf of the city of Roseville.
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Reynolds was a passenger in the car driven by Castile when he was shot and killed by St. Anthony police officer Jeronimo Yanez during a traffic stop on July 6, 2016. Moments after Castile disclosed that he had a firearm, which he had a permit to carry, Yanez fired into the car.
Bullets lodged close to Reynolds in the front passenger's seat and her 4-year-old daughter in a car seat in back. After the shooting, Reynolds was detained and then brought with her daughter to the Roseville Police Department to be interviewed. She was kept in handcuffs for part of the time.
The settlement covers any legal claims Reynolds had related to the shooting, her detention or civil rights violations. It does not admit any guilt on the part of the city.
In a statement, Reynolds said the settlement symbolizes that what happened to her and her daughter was "wrong."
"While no amount of money can change what happened, bring Philando back, or erase the pain that my daughter and I continue to suffer, I do hope that closing this chapter will allow us to get our lives back and move forward," Reynolds said.
Before the council voted, Mayor Jerry Faust said the settlement would help avoid further heartache related to Castile's death.
"Hopefully, there's some healing and closure as we move forward in this incident," Faust said.
The settlement was approved unanimously.
The proposed settlement with Reynolds is not covered by the city's insurance, which was almost maxed out by the $3 million settlement between the city and Castile's family in June. The St. Anthony city manager says the payout will come from the city's general fund and capital reserve.
If the plan is approved by a court, a portion of the settlement will be put into a trust for Reynolds' daughter and her education.
An additional $125,000 will be paid out by the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust on behalf of the city of Roseville, according to a statement from St. Anthony.
The settlement is likely the last that will be related to Castile's shooting. Reynolds streamed the aftermath of the shooting on Facebook Live from the passenger's seat of Castile's Oldsmobile. The video spread quickly and Castile's death led to widespread protests and criticism of St. Anthony.
A jury found Yanez not guilty in June of manslaughter and dangerous discharge of a firearm. He agreed to voluntarily leave the St. Anthony Police Department for a payout of $48,500 plus up to 600 hours of unused personal leave.