The mother of Philando Castile, the Black man killed by a Minnesota police officer last July in front of his partner and daughter, has reached a US$3 million settlement with municipal officials.
RELATED:
New Video Exposes Key Details About Philando Castile’s Death
The settlement, to be paid to Valerie Castile, the family's trustee, was reached to avoid a federal wrongful death lawsuit that could have taken years to resolve.
Castile, who worked in the cafeteria of an elementary school, was shot five times by Jeronimo Yanez during a traffic stop. Last week, Yanez was acquitted of manslaughter and other charges, resulting in massive protests in several cities.
Statement from Valerie Castile and St. Anthony on $3 million settlement reached in officer's fatal shooting of #PhilandoCastile. pic.twitter.com/Z8qJKGB0r3
— Mara Gottfried (@MaraGottfried) June 26, 2017
The incident had gained widespread attention last year after Castile's girlfriend, Diamond Reynolds, who was in the car with the couple’s then-4-year-old daughter, live streamed the gruesome shooting. Reynolds is not included in the settlement.
RELATED:
Latino Police Officer Who Killed Philando Castile Walks Free
The US$2.995 million settlement will be paid by the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust.
"No amount of money could ever replace Philando," a joint statement from the attorneys and city of St. Anthony, The Star Tribune reported, said. "With resolution of the claims the family will continue to deal with their loss through the important work of the Philando Castile Relief Foundation."
Following Yanez's acquittal, the city of St. Anthony offered him a "voluntary separation agreement" from the police department, barring him from working as an on-duty officer.
Last week, a US$1.5 million settlement was reached in the case of Michael Brown, an unarmed teenager who was killed by a white officer in Ferguson, Missouri three years ago.