As a reporter discussed police reform changes since the death of George Floyd at what’s now called “George Floyd Square,” gunshots could be heard ringing out, leaving the reporter to seek cover.
Philip Crowther, an international affiliate reporter for Associated Press GMS, was on-scene covering the anniversary of the Floyd arrest when the gunfire interrupted his reporting.
“BREAKING: shots appear to have been fired at George Floyd Square. Quiet now. People still sheltering in place,” Crowther posted early Tuesday afternoon. “We heard a few dozens sounds of what appear to have been shots fired on this block. Everyone sheltered in place. Lots of running. No apparent need for medics. Will update.”
In the video of the incident (see below), Crowther is talking about “police reform” just before the estimated dozens of gunshots break out.
We heard a few dozens sounds of what appear to have been shots fired on this block. Everyone sheltered in place. Lots of running. No apparent need for medics. Will update. pic.twitter.com/tpDY9etN8I
— Philip Crowther (@PhilipinDC) May 25, 2021
“From our vantage point we see one broken window, apparently from one of the shots fired,” he continued. “Consensus among reporters here at George Floyd Square was that we heard anywhere between a dozen and two dozen shots fired.”
“Quick rough footage of the moment we heard shots fired at George Floyd Square. We counted 30 upon looking back at the footage,” Crowther added.
Quick rough footage of the moment we heard shots fired at George Floyd Square. We counted 30 upon looking back at the footage. pic.twitter.com/oxGkLQru9Q
— Philip Crowther (@PhilipinDC) May 25, 2021
“George Floyd Square very quiet again now,” the reporter said about one hour after his initial tweet. “But a fellow reporter just had her phone smashed because she took photos of a storefront hit by a bullet.”
George Floyd Square very quiet again now. But a fellow reporter just had her phone smashed because she took photos of a storefront hit by a bullet. pic.twitter.com/Ei6QtfUiHd
— Philip Crowther (@PhilipinDC) May 25, 2021
On April 20, a jury found former Minneapolis Police officer Derek Chauvin guilty of second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter in relation to the death of Floyd.
Last May, Chauvin and three other officers arrested and detained Floyd after he allegedly gave counterfeit money at a convenience store. Following a struggle to get Floyd into the back of a police cruiser, viral video shows that Chauvin kneeled on Floyd’s neck and back for nearly nine minutes to detain Floyd while awaiting paramedics.
Chauvin’s attorney Eric Nelson argued during the trial that Floyd’s drug use and bad heart were crucial factors in his death and that Chauvin used reasonable force through an authorized prone hold. The Hennepin County medical examiner revealed that Floyd’s autopsy showed the deceased had potentially lethal levels of drugs in his system.
Floyd’s death sparked protesting and riots across the nation last summer.
Black Lives Matter, a group central to the protesting and rioting, has called for the national defunding of police officers. Their voices only amplified following the Floyd incident.
As noted by The Daily Wire, “City and community leaders in Minneapolis are calling on residents to ‘stand up and speak out’ against violent crime after a recent spate of shootings.”
“Violent crime has surged in the city following last year’s riots over the death of George Floyd and Black Lives Matter activists’ calls for defunding law enforcement,” the report said. “Violent crime surged 21% in 2020, and 2021 is threatening to continue that trend as police grapple with a string of shootings, the most recent resulting in two dead and eight injured.”
WATCH:
Here’s the moment shots were fired near George Floyd Square earlier this morning. pic.twitter.com/NIWRBr6b9Y
— Philip Crowther (@PhilipinDC) May 25, 2021
Related: Biden DOJ Was Going To Arrest Derek Chauvin In Court If Jury Found Him Innocent: Report