Police officer who shot Philando Castile will be paid $48,500
According to a separation agreement announced Monday, the Minnesota police officer who was acquitted in last year’s fatal shooting of black motorist Philando Castile will receive $48,500 as he leaves the suburban department that employed him at the time of the killing.
Jeronimo Yanez will be paid the money in a lump sum, minus applicable deductions and with-holdings for state and federal taxes.
Under the five-page agreement released through a public records request, the Minneapolis suburb of St. Anthony also will pay Yanez for up to 600 hours of accrued and unused personal leave pay.
His annual salary at the time of the July 6, 2016, shooting was more than $72,600, not including overtime pay.
Yanez shot Castile, a 32-year-old elementary school cafeteria worker, several times during a traffic stop after Castile told the officer he was armed. Castile had a permit for his gun. The shooting gained widespread attention after Castile’s girlfriend, who was in the car along with her then-4-year-old daughter, live-streamed its gruesome aftermath on Facebook.
Yanez was acquitted of manslaughter and other charges in June. On the day of the verdict, the city announced the “public will be best served” if Yanez were no longer an officer and the new agreement ends all employment rights for Yanez.
