Riots erupted in Minneapolis on Friday night after another black man who allegedly pulled a gun on cops was shot dead and barriers were dismantled at George Floyd Square.
Police fired tear gas at the protestors as they reportedly smashed windows and lit a dumpster on fire in Uptown, close to where the suspect was killed.
The man, who has been identified as 32-year-old Winston Boogie Smith, a father of three, was wanted on a state arrest warrant for possession of a firearm by a felon.
Smith was convicted of aggravated robbery in 2017, for which he received a stayed prison sentence and was put on probation.
After he missed a probation violation hearing on May 5, an arrest warrant was issued for him.
US Marshals moved in on him outside a parking garage at 2.10pm as he was sat in a stationary car on a parking ramp off Lake Street between Fremont and Hennepin avenues, local media reported.
According to officials, Smith refused to surrender and “produced a handgun resulting in task force members firing upon the subject.”
Officers attempted life-saving measures, but Smith was pronounced dead at the scene. Shelly Hopkins, his partner in a long-term relationship, who was sitting in passenger seat was injured by flying glass and was treated for her injuries.
Hennepin County deputies were also involved, although it is unclear in what capacity. It is currently unknown who fired the shot that killed Smith.
Officers involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave.
The Minneapolis Police Department said they were not involved in the incident.
On Friday, graffiti reading “Mpls still hates cops” and “No trial for them” marked the building next to the parking ramp where Smith was shot. A T-Mobile store and a pharmacy a few blocks down were boarded up and closed indefinitely after having their windows smashed.
Minneapolis police had killed George Floyd in May last year when a white officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for more than nine minutes. He was convicted of manslaughter in April.
