BCA Unlocks Video of Winston Smith Shooting

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) has unlocked a cellphone video of the 2021 fatal shooting of Winston Boogie Smith by U.S. Marshals in Minneapolis. Smith, wanted on a firearm warrant, was shot by task force members on a parking ramp, with officers claiming he fired at them. Although Smith allegedly attempted to record the incident, the phone remained locked until November 2024, when software accessed it after trying over 780,000 password combinations. The video, confirmed to capture the shooting, has been sent to the Hennepin County Attorney's Office for review. The case previously concluded with no charges against the officers, but the new evidence could potentially influence further legal scrutiny. The BCA's difficulty in accessing the phone highlights ongoing challenges with evolving encryption technology.