The attorney for St. Anthony Police Officer Jeronimo Yanez told the Star Tribune Sunday, that Philando Castile was pulled over because of a broken tail light or brake light and because he resembled a robbery suspect from an armed robbery earlier in the week.  Thomas Kelly said his client needed only reasonable suspicion to pull him over.

Kelly said the case had nothing to do with race, but was all about the presence of a gun. Deadly force would not had been used if Castile had not had a gun.

A relative of Castile identified in the report as a cousin said Kelly is just trying to cover for his client. On Tuesday the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension sent out a news release asking for the public’s help in identifying two suspects in a July 2 robbery of a Lauderdale convenience store. The St. Anthony Police Department also patrols Lauderdale under a contract with that city.

The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is continuing the investigation.

Police Officer Fatally Shoots Black Man During Traffic Stop Near St. Paul
Getty Images Stephen Maturen
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