A man was shot dead outside a Minneapolis pawn shop on the 2nd night of violent protests over George Floyd's death
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Ashley Collman
May 28, 2020, 17:20 IST
Protesters are seen outside an AutoZone that was set on fire Wednesday amid a second night of protests in response toGeorge Floyd's death in Minneapolis.Jordon Strowder/Anadolu Agency via Getty
A man was shot outside a pawn shop on the second night of protests in response to the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
A police spokesman told an early Thursday morning press conference that the pawn shop owner fired the shots and that a person is in custody.
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The second night of protests against the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis turned deadly on Wednesday night, with one man fatally shot outside a pawn shop amid widespread looting.
The incident happened just before 9:30 p.m. at the Cadillac Pawn and Jewelry, at the intersection of East Lake Street and Bloomington, the New York Post reported early Thursday morning, citing police spokesman John Elder.
Police responded to the scene after receiving a report of a possible stabbing, and found a man in grave condition, suffering from a gunshot wound.
The man was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center where he later died.
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Police said that the shots were fired by the pawn shop's owner, and one person is in custody, the Star Tribune reported.
Elder said police are still investigating the motive and circumstances of the shooting, but told reporters that the force is exploring the idea that the man was shot while trying to loot the store.
"That is one of the theories that we're working into," Elder said.
Wednesday marked the second night of protests in Minneapolis over the death of George Floyd, a black man who died after a police officer knelt on his neck for several minutes while taking him into custody on Monday for allegedly trying to use a counterfeit $20 bill.
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Images from Wednesday night's protests shows an AutoZone store set on fire and people looting a nearby Target. Mayor Jacob Frey of Minneapolis appealed to protesters on Wednesday night, saying: "Please, Minneapolis, we cannot let tragedy beget more tragedy."
Meanwhile, a video showed protesters in Los Angeles surrounded a police car and shattered its rear window, causing the police officer to drive off and one protester to fall off the moving vehicle and hit his head on the pavement.
Benjamin Crump, an attorney representing Floyd's family, called for peaceful protests in a Wednesday statement.
"We cannot sink to the level of our oppressors, and we must not endanger others during this pandemic," the statement said, according to CNN.
"We will demand and ultimately force lasting change by shining a light on treatment that is horrific and unacceptable and by winning justice."
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The four officers involved in Floyd's arrest have been fired, but no charges have been filed against them so far.
That will ultimately be up to Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman, whose office said in a statement that they continuing to investigate the deadly incident.
"We are working with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) and the Hennepin County Medical Examiner to expeditiously gather and review all of the evidence in the tragic death of Mr. George Floyd," the statement read.
"The videotaped death of Mr. Floyd, which has outraged us and people across the country, deserves the best we can give and that is what this office will do."
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Minneapolis mayor calls for calm after a 2nd night of protests over George Floyd's death collapses into chaos, leaving a Target looted and an AutoZone on fire