WARNING: This story contains content which may be distressing for some readers.
A 32-year-old African American man has been shot and killed by police during a traffic stop in Minneapolis, America.
St. Anthony Police were reportedly conducting a traffic stop when an officer fired at least one shot at Philando Castile in the car.
His girlfriend, Diamond Reynolds, recorded the aftermath of the incident on live video.
She said Castile was shot five times as he sat at the steering wheel reaching into his back pocket for his ID.
In the video, she pleads with him to “stay with me,” as the camera pans across the car to Castile sitting in the driver’s seat with a T-shirt soaked in blood.
Story continued after video
Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton has since spoken about the event, saying police wouldn’t have shot and killed Mr Castile if he’d been white, news.com.au reports.
“Would this have happened if the driver and the passengers had been white?” Gov. Dayton asked.
“I don’t think so.”
“I can’t say how shocked I am and deeply, deeply offended that this would happen to somebody in Minnesota,” he continued.
“No one should be shot in Minnesota for a taillight being out of function. No one should be killed in Minnesota while seated in their car.”
The White House has said President Barack Obama is “deeply disturbed” by reports of the police shootings.
And in a statement, St. Anthony Police Department confirmed that a St. Anthony Police Officer asked the couple to make a traffic stop.
“During the stop, shots were fired. One adult male was taken to the hospital. We have been informed that this individual is deceased,” they said.
