Woman Killed at Winston Smith Protest After Man Drives into Minneapolis Crowd

One woman has died after a vehicle drove into a crowd of people in Minneapolis during protests against the recent police shooting of Black man Winston Smith.

In a statement to Newsweek, Minneapolis Police said they were monitoring a protest in the area of West Lake Street and Girard Avenue South when they observed, on camera, a vehicle traveling eastbound on Lake Street and drive into a group of protesters at around 11:39 p.m. on Sunday, June 13.

One adult female was taken to hospital in a very critical condition. She was later pronounced dead at the hospital as a result of the crash.

Two injured protesters were transported to Hennepin County Medical Center via ambulance with non-life threatening injuries.

Video on social media appears to show the moment that the suspect driving the car was pulled out of the car. Police said protesters hit the suspect while detaining him.

The suspect is now in custody and being treated at an area hospital.

"Preliminary investigation indicates that the use of drugs or alcohol by the driver may be a contributing factor in this crash," a police spokesperson said.

The Medical Examiner will release the identity of the victim, along with the nature and cause of death in the days to come.

Crime Lab personnel responded to document the scene and collect evidence. Homicide detectives are involved and working with the Minneapolis Police Department's Traffic Investigative Unit.

There have been a number of protests in the city over the killing of Smith, who was shot by sheriff's deputies at a parking ramp in the Uptown area of Minneapolis on June 3.

Smith was wanted by law enforcement on a state warrant for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. According to the U.S. Marshals Service, Smith was in a parked car and "failed to comply and produced a handgun, resulting in task force members firing upon the subject."

A woman who was with Smith the day he was killed said that she never saw him display a gun before the deputies opened fire.

"She never saw a gun on Winston Smith, and she never saw a gun inside the vehicle at any time," Racey Rodne, an attorney for the woman, said during a press conference on Thursday, June 10.

The protest on Sunday night took place one day after Smith's body was said to rest at a funeral service at the Shiloh Temple International Ministries.

"I just want you to remember about my brother Winston—he was truly a ray of sunshine. The kindest, sweetest, most joyful person," Smith's sister, Tieshia Floyd, told the crowd, via MPR News.

"That's what I want you all to leave with, and remember him."

The shooting took place a couple of weeks after the one year anniversary of the murder of George Floyd by former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, which sparked worldwide Black Lives Matter protests.

Anyone with information about the incident with the vehicle is encouraged to call CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Tips may be submitted electronically at www.CrimeStoppersMN.org. All Tips are anonymous and persons providing information leading to an arrest and conviction may be eligible for a financial reward.