A wanted fugitive was shot and killed during a confrontation with a U.S. Marshals task force Thursday in the Uptown neighborhood of Minneapolis, setting off an all-too-familiar situation in Minnesota's largest city overnight.
Law enforcement officers were attempting to apprehend the suspect who "failed to comply and produced a handgun, resulting in task force members firing upon the subject," according to a statement from the U.S. Marshals Service.
Twin Cities CBS affiliate WCCO reported Friday morning that they identified the suspect as Winston Boogie Smith.
WCCO has learned that the man shot and killed by law enforcement in Uptown Thursday was 32-year-old Winston Boogie Smith. | https://t.co/tGJST1AzdT
— WCCO - CBS Minnesota (@WCCO) June 4, 2021
As Fox9 reported, "While the shooting did not involve Minneapolis police, tensions started to rise after 10 p.m. last night with some people starting a dumpster on fire."
And as Minneapolis faces a surge in gun violence after defunding law enforcement, "police and firefighters stayed away, letting the fire burn for more than an hour."
Tonight protesters in Uptown have barricaded off Lake Street and Girard Ave and have started a fire after a homicide suspect that was shot and killed by authorities today. #Minneapolis pic.twitter.com/TptcS0gsFW
— Rebecca Brannon (@RebsBrannon) June 4, 2021
In one video from the scene, a woman with a young child clinging to her back is seen telling the gathered crowd to "stop burning s**t."
A woman tells organizers to "stop burning shit".
— Rebecca Brannon (@RebsBrannon) June 4, 2021
Still no police presence.
Protesters have been gathered all evening and the fire has been going at least 40 minutes. pic.twitter.com/cW90Y279La
In addition to stoking fires with traffic cones and throwing toilet paper and police tape over stoplights, looting broke out as several groups smashed store windows including those of a Target and CVS Pharmacy.
The moment protestors broke a window at the Target store on Lake Street and Freemont. @FOX9 #Uptown #Minneapolis https://t.co/Va0IeUeQNH pic.twitter.com/gvevvjvsn8
— Greg Kellogg (@Overnights_at_9) June 4, 2021
Photos of the damage done at the @cvspharmacy in #Uptown @FOX9 pic.twitter.com/AdRPQl5IAL
— Greg Kellogg (@Overnights_at_9) June 4, 2021
Minneapolis police eventually arrived on the scene and, amid profane jeering from protestors and rioters, secured the area.
The moment Police aggressively moved in on protesters and dispersed tear gas into the intersection. #Minneapolis #Uptown #WinstonBoogieSmith pic.twitter.com/A2zfDxRnbh
— Rebecca Brannon (@RebsBrannon) June 4, 2021
Minneapolis fire crews later showed up to extinguish what was left of the dumpster and debris.
Pt 3 continues with the moment @MinneapolisFire extinguishes the fire on Lake Street. @FOX9 https://t.co/RLj4zSZDD2 pic.twitter.com/enbsNbrtUl
— Greg Kellogg (@Overnights_at_9) June 4, 2021
The unrest and looting unfolded on the same day Minneapolis officials began the process of taking back the George Floyd autonomous zone that was set up more than one year ago.
City crews in Minneapolis have began to dismantle the George Floyd autonomous zone after more than a year. The barricaded area was the staging ground for shootings. Three people, including a pregnant woman, were murdered at that BLM-Antifa autonomous zone. pic.twitter.com/Of35WBsR4u
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) June 3, 2021
Join the conversation as a VIP Member