Twitter Reacts To Philando Castile Shooting Verdict That Acquitted Officer Jeronimo Yanez

People took to Twitter to express outrage over Friday’s acquittal verdict in the fatal shooting of black man Philando Castile in Minnesota. A police officer was not found guilty in the shooting that took place last July.

Twitter users questioned the verdict with several people pointing out the jury — comprised of only two black members — decided to acquit officer Jeronimo Yanez despite there being a Facebook video of Castile’s shooting in the St. Paul suburb of Falcon Heights. The jury deliberated for about 29 hours over five days.

Read: Betty Shelby, Tulsa Police Officer Who Shot Terence Crutcher, Acquitted In Shooting Case

According to prosecutors, Yanez overreacted in the situation and Castile was not a threat to him. Prosecutor John Choi said the acquittal was painful, but that the verdict “must be respected.”

“I don’t doubt that Officer Yanez is a decent person, but he made a horrible mistake from our perspective, and that’s what this case was about,” Choi said, according to the Associated Press (AP). “I know that if he could, he would take back what he did, and we all wish, and he would too, that this never happened.”

Following the verdict, people took to streets in St. Paul to protest the verdict. According to police estimates, about 2,000 people gathered for the peaceful demonstrations. However, 18 people were taken into custody during the protests, CNN reported.

The 32-year-old deceased’s girlfriend Diamond Reynolds live streamed Castile’s shooting after his car was pulled up during a traffic stop July 6, 2016. Reynolds’ 4-year-old daughter was also in the car at the time of the incident.

Following the shooting, Yanez was placed on administrative leave and later charged with second-degree manslaughter, which is punishable by up to 10 years in jail. He was faced two lesser counts of endangering Reynolds and her daughter for opening fire into the car.

In his testimony, Yanez said he stopped Castile because he thought he resembled to one of two men who had robbed a nearby store a few days prior to the shooting. According to a squad car video, the 29-year-old officer asked Castile for a driver’s license and proof insurance. Castile told Yanez he had a weapon. However, before Castile could complete his sentence, Yanez pulled out his gun and said: “Don’t pull it out.” He then fired seven shots, of which five hit Castile. The AP reported, citing prosecutors, Castile’s last words were: “I wasn’t reaching for it.”

Read: NYPD Officer Faces Murder Charges For Shooting Mentally Ill Woman In The Bronx

During the testimony, Yanez said he was “scared to death” and thought of his wife and baby daughter in before he fired the shots.

Castile’s mother Valerie Castile reacted to the acquittal verdict.

“The fact in this matter is that my son was murdered, and I’ll continue to say murdered, because where in this planet (can you) tell the truth, and you be honest, and you still be murdered by the police of Minnesota,” Valerie said, referring to the fact that Castile was shot even though he informed he had a weapon. “Sir, I have to tell you, I do have a firearm on me.”

“He didn’t deserve to die the way he did,” Philando Castile’s sister, Allysza, said. “I will never have faith in the system.”

Following are some reactions by Twitter users on the verdict.

Some Twitter users criticized the jury for the decision.