MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – After members of a US Marshals task force killed a man they were trying to arrest on Thursday, the Uptown neighborhood of Minneapolis was once again the target of unrest. WCCO has now learned that the man killed was Winston Boogie Smith, 32.
The unrest was the result of a deadly encounter that occurred at around 2:10 p.m. Thursday on a Lake Street parking ramp between Fremont and Hennepin avenues. There, Marshals Service officials said the shot was wanted “under a state arrest warrant” for being a felon in possession of a gun.
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Members of the task force, in several vehicles, confronted the man on the ramp, who was sitting with a woman in a parked car. The man refused to surrender and drew a gun, officials said, prompting several members of the task force to open fire.
Smith died despite rescue measures taken at the scene. His passenger was injured by shards of glass and was treated for her injuries.
Hennepin County MPs were involved in the task force, but it is unclear what role they played. It’s still unclear who fired the shot that killed Smith. However, the Minneapolis Police Department said he was not involved.
According to information gathered by WCCO, Smith was convicted of aggravated theft in 2017, received a suspended prison sentence and was put on probation. Smith was also convicted of a felony in Ramsey County for possession of firearms, for which he did not appear for sentencing on May 19. As a result, this arrest warrant was issued. More information is gathered and confirmed, so check back for more.
The man killed by law enforcement Thursday in Uptown was Winston Boogie Smith.
An arrest warrant was issued after he skipped a probation violation hearing, which allegedly sent him to jail.
He recently released a song for his children called “Goodbye”, possibly due to a prison sentence. pic.twitter.com/UrzfbU1Oda
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– Guy Still (@mplstvguy) June 4, 2021
A crowd gathered at the scene, waiting to get more information about the shooting. Two groups of peace activists – We Push For Peace and A Mother’s Love – were also present to defuse conflicts should they arise.
Most of the crowd had dispersed around 6 p.m., but a crowd returned just after 9:15 p.m., shortly after investigators left the scene and reopened Lake Street to traffic. People pulled the tape from the crime scene, then dragged a dumpster into the middle of the busy street and set it on fire.
Police spokesman John Elder said many buildings were vandalized and some looted overnight. Arrests have been made, however, Elder says a large number of arrests will not be released until noon Friday due to continued law enforcement into the late morning.
GOING NOW – Police left around 9:15 p.m. and reopened Lake St. and protesters quickly shut it down again, pulling trash cans and dumpsters into the street and setting one on fire #wcco @WCCO pic.twitter.com/oyPlKYXnzS
– Marielle Mohs (@MarielleMohs) June 4, 2021
NO MORE NEWS: Fugitive killed at top of downtown Minneapolis parking ramp by task force members, marshals say
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension will investigate.
