ROBERT SIEGEL, HOST:
And we're also learning more today about the life of Philando Castile, the man killed by a police officer in Minnesota on Wednesday. Castile's girlfriend, Diamond Reynolds, spoke at a rally in front of the Minnesota governor's mansion today.
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DIAMOND REYNOLDS: A man was not only took from his family who loved him. He was took from the community.
ARI SHAPIRO, HOST:
That community is now in shock and mourning. Philando Castile's uncle Clarence Castile also spoke at the rally and called for justice for his nephew.
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CLARENCE CASTILE: I would like to address their police officer just one moment here. God is watching you, Brother.
UNIDENTFIED WOMAN #1: Yes, he is.
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN #2: That's right.
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN #3: That's right.
CASTILE: My friend God saw what you did, and you will be judged.
SIEGEL: Philando Castile would have celebrated his 33rd birthday later this month. Most of his adult life, he worked for St. Paul Public Schools. When he was 19, he started work there as a nutrition service's assistant. Two years ago he earned a promotion to supervisor.
SHAPIRO: I talked with Tony Fragnito. Two of his young kids attended the Montessori school where Philando Castile worked. He knew him as Phil.
TONY FRAGNITO: He was a super guy. All the kids loved him. He was quick with a joke with the kids. He would - you know, he was often seen giving them high fives. He was quick to defuse situations with rambunctious kids.
SHAPIRO: Tony Fragnito helped organize a vigil this evening for members of the school community that Philando Castile was a part of.
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VALERIE CASTILE: And Philando Castile was my son, my one and only son. And he was executed by the police. I just want to thank you all for coming out. He would be pleased. He was an angel, a living angel. And somewhere or another, he touched each and every one of your lives.
SIEGEL: Wednesday's shooting was not Castile's first encounter with police. Public records show police had stopped him repeatedly over the years for vehicle infractions - for example, failure to wear a seat belt or improper display of a license plate.
SHAPIRO: Castile's girlfriend, Diamond Reynolds, said at the rally today that the shooting happened after Castile was pulled over for a broken headlight. She told reporters the police are not serving us, and they are not protecting us. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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