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 killing of Winston Smith
MPR News Staff

Winston Smith’s car passenger takes legal action

Funeral services for Winston Smith
A relative carries Kyland Smith, son of Winston Smith, as they view the casket during funeral services for Winston Smith at Shiloh Temple International Ministries in Minneapolis on June 12.
Kerem Yücel for MPR News file

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

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

The woman who was with Winston Smith on June 3 when law enforcement killed him during an attempted arrest at a Minneapolis parking ramp is taking legal action.

Attorneys for Norhan Askar filed a lawsuit in Hennepin County District Court against the Hennepin and Ramsey county sheriff’s offices. The attorneys filed a separate $15 million federal tort complaint against the U.S. Marshals Service that led the task force whose officers fatally shot Smith.

The lawsuit alleges Askar and Smith were leaving a lunch date on June 3 in Uptown when two plainclothes deputies shot into their parked car. Askar’s attorneys say she was hurt from flying glass and suffers emotionally from what she experienced. The lawsuit says Askar never acted suspiciously or violently during the entire encounter with police and was never warned about what was happening.

Earlier in July, Askar through her attorneys said officers did not identify themselves as authorities when they surrounded Smith’s car with guns drawn. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said in June that it would not release the sheriff’s deputies’ names because they were working undercover.

Investigators say there is no body camera or squad camera footage and are unaware of any surveillance video. Local sheriffs have ended their work with the U.S. Marshals task force over its body camera policy.

Correction: A previous version of this story misstated the court in which the lawsuit was filed. The above copy is updated.