Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
The death of Philando Castile and the trial of Jeronimo Yanez
Jon Collins and Riham Feshir

Officer in Castile shooting death pleads not guilty; trial date set

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Log inCreate a free Account

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Officer Jeronimo Yanez
Booking photo for St. Anthony police officer Jeronimo Yanez
Ramsey County Sheriff's Office

Updated: 10:07 a.m. | Posted: 4 a.m.

The St. Anthony police officer charged in Philando Castile's July shooting death pleaded not guilty in Ramsey County District Court Monday to all charges filed against him.

Jeronimo Yanez, 28, faces a second-degree manslaughter charge for fatally shooting Castile, 32, during a traffic stop in the Twin Cities suburb of Falcon Heights. He also faces two felony firearms charges for firing his gun into the car, where Castile's girlfriend, Diamond Reynolds, and her young daughter were sitting.

Monday's hearing lasted less than four minutes.

Yanez walked into the courtroom flanked by his three attorneys. He spoke clearly and loudly when he answered Ramsey County District Judge William Leary III's questions about waiving his right to have the criminal complaint read in court.

"Your honor, I waive that right," he said.

And: "Your honor, I plead 'not guilty,'" when the judge outlined the charges against him.

Leary set a trial date of May 30. Questionnaires for potential jurors will be distributed on the first day of the trial. The next day, potential jurors will answer those questions in court.

In the meantime, Yanez is not in custody and remains on paid administrative leave.

Earlier this month, Leary rejected a motion by Yanez's attorneys to dismiss the charges against him.

The defense has argued that Yanez was justified in the shooting, arguing that Castile disobeyed the officer's order not to reach for a gun that he had in the car with him. They contend that Yanez shot Castile because he saw the gun and feared for his life.

Prosecutors say that after Yanez pulled Castile over for a broken taillight, Castile calmly told the officer that he had a gun with him. Yanez told Castile not to reach for the gun, they said, and Castile told the officer he wasn't reaching for it. That's when Yanez fired his gun seven times.

Reynolds streamed the aftermath of the shooting streamed on Facebook Live.

Castile's death came on the heels of a number of high-profile killings of African-American men by police. It sparked protests across the region, including a temporary protest camp outside the Minnesota Governor's Residence in St. Paul.