MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – State investigators looking into the death of an unarmed black Minneapolis man shot by police during a scuffle are trying to determine whether he was restrained at the time, as some witnesses allege, an official said.
Police initially said Jamar ONeal Clark was not handcuffed when he was shot, but authorities later said handcuffs were at the scene and they were trying to determine whether Clark was restrained.
“We’re still examining whether or not they were on Mr. Clark or whether or not they were just (fallen) at the scene. That’s what we’re trying to ascertain,” state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans said at a news conference Tuesday.
Clark, 24, died Monday, a day after police shot him during an early morning dispute. Police said the incident began when they were called to north Minneapolis around 12:45 a.m. Sunday following a report of an assault. When they arrived, a man was interfering with paramedics helping the victim, police said. Officers tried to calm him, but there was a struggle. At some point, an officer fired at least once, hitting the man, police said.
The shooting sparked protests, including one Monday night in which hundreds of people blocked traffic on an interstate highway, leading to 42 arrests.