George Floyd's Death Incites Massive Protests; The Latest

The Minneapolis protests on Wednesday night left one dead as the police and citizens faced off across barricades. The protests were incited by the death of George Floyd, the black man who was allegedly killed while under police custody on Monday, May 26.

On Monday, a video circulated on social media showing a man on the ground receiving CPR from a police officer in Minneapolis. The man was allegedly George Floyd, who was also found lying on the pavement at around 9:25 p.m. with a gunshot wound. The police reportedly took him to the hospital but he later died.

Around midnight on Tuesday, the police said at a press conference that an investigation was ongoing as to what had happened to Floyd. The police are looking into the theory that he was killed by a pawnshop owner following an attempt to loot the store.

According to eyewitnesses, however, four police officers pulled Floyd from his car on Monday night, one of whom knelt on his neck for several minutes while he repeatedly shouted “I can’t breathe!” Onlookers who were at the scene filmed the incident and the footage immediately spread like wildfire across the web, drawing rage.

On Wednesday night, thousands of citizens swarmed the streets of Minneapolis and other parts of the U.S. to protest Floyd’s death and police brutality. The four police officers caught on video have already been terminated but the reason behind his gunshot wound remains unknown.

As the protesters faced off with the police, the police deployed rubber bullets, tear gas, and grenade on the streets. Looting then broke out during the protest, with footage showing protesters breaking into a Target store and leaving with carts teeming with looted merchandise.

While the incident was taking place, city mayor Jacob Frey appealed to Minneapolis citizens to stay calm. Governor Tim Walz also warned the protesters and asked them to leave the area immediately.

“The situation near Lake Street and Hiawatha in Minneapolis has evolved into an extremely dangerous situation,” tweeted Walz. “For everyone’s safety, please leave the area and allow firefighters and paramedics to get to the scene,” he added.