Minneapolis Police on Lake Street After Winston Smith Shooting

Minneapolis Police officers are present on Lake Street in Uptown Minneapolis following the law enforcement shooting death of Winston Smith. Smith was killed by Federal Task Force members while they were serving a warrant. The incident sparked days of protests in the area, with "Our Streets" and "Stop Power" spray-painted on the road, indicating the public's response to the event. On June 3, 2021, members of a U.S. Marshals Service fugitive task force fatally shot 32-year-old Winston “Boogie” Smith Jr. on the top level of a parking ramp in Minneapolis’ Uptown neighborhood while attempting to arrest him on a felony warrant. Authorities said Smith fired a handgun from inside his vehicle during the encounter, while family members and activists questioned the official account and demanded the release of additional evidence. The killing led to weeks of protests, street occupations, and confrontations with police in Uptown, becoming another major flashpoint in Minneapolis during the period following the murder of George Floyd. Earlier in the day Minneapolis city officials along with The Agape Movement coordinated to open the streets that had been closed at George Floyd Square since his murder.

Photo taken in June 2021.