Police Chase, Deadly Shooting Streamed on Facebook Live in Richfield, Minnesota

Brian Quinones, who was killed in an officer-involved shooting in Richfield, Minnesota, captured the moments leading up to his death on Facebook Live.

You can watch the video here, but be forewarned that it is extremely graphic.

Brian Quinones was a 30-year-old father who was originally from Puerto Rico and lived in Minneapolis. He released an album called “T.I.M.E.: This Is My Everything,” on Soundcloud in the hours leading up to the shooting under the name “Blessed The MC.” One of his last Facebook posts said, “So sorry.” His full name was Brian Jesus Quinones-Rosario. Read more about his life here.

Brian J. Quinones was driving and listening to music before the shooting at about 10:20 p.m. He died on the scene after a brief chase after he was shot by police officers. Police told the Star Tribune he had a knife.

He ran a red light near York Avenue, initiating a chase, the Star Tribune reported.

Quinones started recording the video about 12 minutes before the shooting. It was not clear exactly when the police chase started, but flashing red and blue lights can be seen on the video. He appeared very calm throughout the video, only looking briefly startled as he jumped out of his vehicle.

Police used a pursuit-intervention tactic, or PIT maneuver, on the vehicle near E. 77th Street and Chicago Avenue. The Star Tribune reported officers could be heard shouting “Drop the knife! Drop the knife!” on scanner audio.

Edina Police and Richfield Police released a joint statement to Heavy which said, in part, “The Edina and Richfield Police Departments express our thoughts and prayers to all those involved in this tragic incident.”

Here’s what you need to know:

Brian Quinones Was On Facebook Live When He Fled Police & Was Shot

Brian J. Quinones began streaming a Facebook Live video about 12 minutes before he was fatally shot. He can be seen driving through work zones and running red lights before police initiated a traffic stop. He continued driving after police tried to stop him, but appeared calm throughout the pursuit. He did not seem to be fleeing at high speeds. It was not clear on the video when exactly the chase started, but flashing red and blue lights can be seen reflecting off Quinones’ face and the vehicle’s interior. Quinones continued listening to his music as he fled, occasionally glancing in his rear-view mirror and sometimes singing along.

Quinones appeared to be extremely calm throughout the entire video as he drove through Richfield, and did not appear to become tense as he fled police. He only appeared briefly startled when his vehicle stopped, and he jumped out. A series of seven gunshots, followed by an additional five gunshots, can be heard on the video.

Eerily, the video continued recording for another 97 minutes, and his music continued playing. Officers secured the scene as the recording continued. The video stopped when an officer appeared to notice the phone and stopped the recording.

Some people who watched the video said a knife could be seen on the video. While an object that could be a knife can be seen in Quinones’ hand while he holds the steering wheel, it could not be confirmed that it was a knife.

The Star Tribune reported scanner audio captured police shouting “Drop the knife! Drop the Knife!” The video captured the sound of police shouting, but it was not clear on the video what they were saying because their words were drowned out by the music.

Edina Police and Richfield Police released a joint statement, which said, “On Saturday, Sept. 7 at 10:22 p.m. a police pursuit that began in Edina, ended in an officer involved shooting near the intersection of 77th Street East and Chicago Avenue in Richfield. The incident involved officers from the Edina and Richfield Police departments. No officers were injured during the incident. The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation. The Edina and Richfield Police Departments express our thoughts and prayers to all those involved in this tragic incident.”

They referred further comment to the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, which took over the investigation.

Quinones Wrote ‘So Sorry’ On Facebook Before His Death & Released an Album with Foreshadowing Lyrics

One hour before Quinones died, he posted on Facebook, “So sorry.” Two minutes later, at 9:25 p.m., he wrote “Link.” Shortly after that, he started streaming the Facebook video that captured the moments leading up to his own death and the sound of rapid gunfire.

Two days before his death, he made a poignant post on Facebook.

“In life… There are pivotal moments that propel you. Moments you’ve strived for since your inception. Moments that quite frankly you’re 1. Not ready for and 2. Too afraid to capture,” he wrote. “You’ll feel and know when that moment has arrived. At that point its fight or flight in an instant. I wholeheartedly pray you fight through. Otherwise you’ll look in that rearview and realize you’ve reached your destination before you enjoyed your final sunset. ‘These Days I’m Much More Grateful.'”

The post seemed to be a reference to his music. He describes his name, “Blessed The MC,” on his Soundcloud bio.

“My name Blessed the MC’ comes from my perspective,” he wrote. “They say you are what you think. Therefore, I am Blessed. I acknowledge my Gods gifts & it plays into the law of attraction. Please check out my music. I really give it my entire heart. Thank you & feel free to talk. I am only human.”

In the hours leading up to the pursuit and deadly shooting, he announced he would release his album, “T.I.M.E.: This Is My Everything,” on Soundcloud.

“To show you how much my art means to me… I’ll sacrifice streaming numbers….If you want the album TODAY I’ll upload it on SOUNDCLOUD,” he wrote about nine hours before the chase. “Ready for that Ride?”

Two hours later, he shared a link for the uploaded album.

“I Pray You Treasure It… My Hearts Inside It,” he wrote.

A friend noticed some of his lyrics seemed to foreshadow his day in a police shooting.

“RIP Brian J Quinones. It’s Crazy how they did you. I’m in complete shock all this on FB Live,” she wrote. “Then what’s even more shocking I’m listening to your music and some of your lyrics almost describe what happend to you. This hurts and I’m So sorry … We lost a Real One.”

She shared a video on Facebook which included a piece of his song, “The Past Hurts.”

“Get ready, cuz it’s gonna hurt, right?” Quinones says.

“They killed him. This ain’t the way it’s supposed to go,” the song continues. “They killed him, and I’m just supposed to be here.”

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