A police officer fatally shot a Black man during a traffic stop in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, on Sunday afternoon, authorities reported. This incident occurred just 15 minutes from the location of the trial for Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer accused of murdering George Floyd.
The traffic stop began around 2 p.m. when officers discovered that the driver, a 20-year-old father named Malik Johnson, had an outstanding warrant. Brooklyn Center Police Chief Tim Gannon stated, “At one point, as officers were attempting to apprehend the driver, he re-entered the vehicle.” An officer then discharged their weapon, hitting the driver. Johnson’s car continued for several blocks before colliding with another vehicle, with his girlfriend as a passenger.
Family members reported that Malik was stopped for having an air freshener hanging from his rearview mirror. “I heard scuffling and then police officers saying, ‘Malik, don’t run,’ followed by another officer telling him to ‘Put the phone down,’” his mother, Lisa Johnson, recounted to reporters. “A minute later, I called back, and his girlfriend answered, saying he’d been shot, and my son was lying there lifeless.”
In a later press conference, Chief Gannon claimed that the officer involved mistakenly drew her firearm instead of a Taser. He played footage from police body cameras where the officer can be heard yelling “Taser! Taser! Taser!” indicating she believed she had drawn her stun gun.
Brooklyn Center Mayor David Grant expressed condolences via Twitter, stating, “Our entire community is filled with grief following today’s officer-involved shooting of Malik Johnson, a 20-year-old young man… We urge our community to gather peacefully as we seek transparency and accountability.”
The Johnson family described Malik as a devoted father who had a bright future ahead. “He was a good kid who loved being a father,” they shared in a statement.
In response to the unrest following the shooting, Mayor Grant imposed a curfew until 6 a.m. and local schools transitioned to remote learning “out of an abundance of caution.” The Minnesota chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union called for an “immediate, transparent, and independent investigation” by an outside agency, voicing concerns that police may have used the air freshener as a pretext for the stop, a practice they believe targets Black individuals.
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In summary, the tragic shooting of Malik Johnson by police during a traffic stop has sparked protests and demands for accountability in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. The incident raises questions about policing practices and the systemic issues surrounding racial profiling.
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