"We need to make sure that justice is pursued swiftly and thoroughly in this case, and we must also recognize that it is our job as lawmakers to help address and dismantle the systemic racial inequalities that lead to far too many of these deaths," the Minnesota lawmaker stated.
Castile’s girlfriend, identified in US media as Lavish Reynolds, uploaded the video of his death on social media after he was shot in front of her and the couple’s infant daughter. Reynolds was later taken into custody by police.
The 32-year-old Castile was the second African-American man whose death at the hands of US police was filmed this week.
On Tuesday, the footage of Alton Sterling appearing to be pinned to the ground and shot in the chest by police in Baton Rouge, Louisiana prompted the US Department of Justice to open an investigation into the incident.
The Justice Department said earlier in the day that they are assessing the situation regarding Castile’s death. Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton asked the Department on Thursday to open a federal inquiry into the incident.
