The police officer who fatally shot Philando Castile has been acquitted

Ramsey County Sheriff's Office via Associated Press

This Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016 photo provided by the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office shows Jeronimo Yanez. Yanez, a St. Anthony police officer, who is charged with second-degree manslaughter in the shooting death of Philando Castile, turned himself in Thursday, and was processed and released.

Jeronimo Yanez, the Minnesota police officer who fatally shot Philando Castile last July, was acquitted Friday.

The 29-year-old had been charged with second-degree manslaughter and two counts of dangerous discharge of a firearm, and faced a sentence of up to 20 years in prison.

Castile's death garnered national attention last July and prompted protests over police killings, after Castile's girlfriend Diamond Reynolds livestreamed the aftermath of his shooting on Facebook.

Yanez had shot Castile during a traffic stop. He argued in court that he believed Castile had been trying to grab a gun. Reynolds, however, said Castile had only been reaching for his driver's license.

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