CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE STATEMENT REGARDING DECISION BY COUNTY ATTORNEY TO BRING MANSLAUGHTER CHARGES AGAINST OFFICER INVOLVED IN FATAL SHOOTING OF PHILANDO CASTILE

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PRESS STATEMENT

CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE STATEMENT REGARDING DECISION BY COUNTY ATTORNEY TO BRING MANSLAUGHTER CHARGES AGAINST OFFICER INVOLVED IN FATAL SHOOTING OF PHILANDO CASTILE

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee, and Ranking Member of its Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security and Investigations released the following statement today:

“The County Attorney for Ramsey County, Minnesota Attorney Office has brought manslaughter charges against the police officer involved in the tragic and fatal shooting of Philando Castile, a 32-year old African American man on July 6, 2016.

“The shocking video of that incident was viewed by millions of persons across the country and considered by many to be a textbook example of unjustified use of lethal force and an urgent reminder of the pressing need for reform of the nation’s law enforcement and criminal justice system. Police departments need to receive better training in the use of de-escalation and non-lethal tactics and to make the transition from ‘warrior’ to ‘guardian’ cultural mindset.

“That is why I joined with House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers to introduce the Law Enforcement Trust and Integrity act (H.R. 2875). This legislation will help build trust and respect between law enforcement officers and the communities they serve by providing for continual development and improvement of law enforcement agencies in establishing standards of excellence and accountability.

“I commend the Ramsey County Attorney on the decision to seek justice for Philando Castile but urge everyone to remember that under our constitutional form of government every person charged with a criminal offense is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.”

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Congresswoman Jackson Lee is a Democrat from Texas’s 18th Congressional District. She is a senior member of the House Committees on Judiciary and Homeland Security and is Ranking Member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security and Investigations.