Businesses and buildings in Minneapolis have been vandalized again yesterday amid unrest over the police-involved shooting of a Black man Thursday.
The decedent was identified by his longtime girlfriend as 32-year-old Winston Boogie Smith Jr., a father-of-three who had been harassed by cops since he was a teen.
“We have a very big spiritual connection, and my intuition kicked in and I just had a feeling. I knew something wasn’t right…I didn’t want to believe it,” she said.
Minneapolis officials said that the suspect was shot while they conducted an arrest warrant against him for carrying an illegal firearm.
Smith “produced a handgun resulting in task force members firing upon the subject” and killing him.
Authorities said that Smith fired at the officers who shot back at him. He died at the scene despite their attempts to help him.
The following evening saw crowds of protesters gathering near the parking lot where the shooting occurred, shouting insults at officers and burglarizing “numerous” buildings and stores.
Nine people have been arrested on riot, assault, arson, and damage to property charges amid the looting events.
