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Minneapolis Shooting: Protests erupt after cops shoot Black man less than a mile from where George Floyd died

In the aftermath of the shooting, videos posted on social media showed people gathering for spontaneous protests

A man was fatally shot by Minneapolis police officers during a traffic stop on Wednesday, December 30. The incident occurred a few blocks from where George Floyd, an African-American man was killed by now-former Minneapolis police officers earlier this year in May. The identity of the man and the circumstances of the shooting are not clear but the police cited witnesses to say that the man fired first.

Protests have erupted in the city in the aftermath of the shooting as more details are awaited. The incident occurred outside the Holiday gas station off of East 36th Street and Cedar Avenue. According to CBS, police chief Medaria Arradondo said that officers pulled over a felony suspect. Arradondo also said that initial witness statements showed that the suspect fired at the police first, who then fired back and killed him.

The man's female passenger and police officers were not hurt. CBS also reported that investigators at the scene found a gun on the suspect. Arradondo stated that police body camera footage of the shooting will be released the following day. The investigation is being led by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

Following the shooting, Mayor Jacob Frey released a statement, saying, "Events of this past year have marked some of the darkest days in our city. We know a life has been cut short and that trust between communities of color and law enforcement is fragile. Rebuilding that trust will depend on complete transparency. I am working closely with Chief Arradondo to gather all the facts surrounding what happened tonight and will be relaying that information, in coordination with State partners, to the community as quickly as possible. We must all be committed to getting the facts, pursuing justice, and keeping the peace."

In the aftermath of the shooting, videos posted on social media by a Star Tribune reporter showed a crowd of protesters chanting at police and officers in riot gear. Alex Chhith tweeted, "Out here at what sounds like an officer-involved shooting at Cedar and 36th street. There were chants to abolish the police. Lots of people out checking out the scene. I’d say there are around 60-70 ppl."

People took to social media to express shock and anger at the latest shooting as well as called for others to join the spontaneous protests. One user tweeted, "Despite freezing temperatures, hundreds came out to the scene where Minneapolis police have again killed a Black man, whose name we do not yet know. Briefly, this anger erupted in a hail of kicks and snowballs on a police cruiser that got too close."

Another wrote, "I’m just super angry right now that the right-wing internet is already claiming that we’re rioting in Minneapolis when everything from the scene indicates a peaceful protest with singing and speeches."

One user tweeted, "Remember that the people of Minneapolis don't believe MPD because MPD habitually lie in statements. They lied this summer, this fall, last month. So, when we hear that the cops killed somebody and MPD claim it was justified our skepticism is rational; belief would be naive."