Girlfriend of Minnesota Man Killed by Police: ‘They Took My Lifeblood’

The girlfriend of the Minnesota man shot dead by a police officer, who filmed the aftermath of the shooting, wept Thursday as she pleaded for justice and mourned the loss of a man who she called her “lifeblood.”

Diamond Reynolds — whose video shows the moments after Philando Castile was gunned down — recounted the gruesome incident as supporters and reporters swarmed her outside the Minnesota governor’s residence.

A police officer shot Castile, 32, during a traffic stop, authorities said. Reynolds and her young daughter were in the car. “My daughter will be forever scarred by what the police at Falcon Heights did to us for no apparent reason,” she told the crowd.

“They took my lifeblood. That was my best friend. I don’t have any family in Minnesota. I don’t have nobody,” she later added, sobbing. “I never got to say my last words to that man.”

Reynolds, who was detained following the incident at about 9 p.m., said she was finally released and returned home about 5 a.m. Thursday.

Castile was not the father of her daughter but still raised her as his own. Reynolds said. “It’s not fair and it’s not right,” she said. “I will not be able to sleep until I get justice. I need justice. And even after justice, this will never go away.”

Reynolds says in the video that the vehicle was pulled over for a “busted taillight.” The officer asked Castile for his license and registration, she says. Castile reached for the information as requested and also informed the officer that he had a gun in the car and was licensed to carry before the officer opened fire, according to Reynolds.

“Nothing within his body language said shoot me,” she told reporters Thursday.