Brooklyn Center Police Chief Tim Gannon depicted the death as “an accidental discharge.”
What We Know:
- 20-year-old Daunte Wright had been pulled over after police saw air fresheners dangling from his rearview mirror, which is illegal in Minnesota. They then discovered Wright had an outstanding arrest warrant and tried to arrest him.
- However, Wright quickly got out of the handcuffs and ran into his car. A few of the policemen struggled to get Wright out of the car when Kim Potter, the officer who shot Wright, screamed, “I’ll Tase you! I’ll Tase you! Taser! Taser! Taser!” She then fired at him. The car sped off, only to crash into another vehicle several blocks away. CBS News says Wright was pronounced dead at the scene. Wright’s girlfriend was in the car with him but sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The people in the other car were not hurt.
“Holy (expletive)! I shot him,” said Potter as Wright’s car drove away.
- Potter claims she intended to grab her taser. Instead, she grabbed her gun and fired at Wright. Gannon says after reviewing the footage, he believes Wright’s shooting was accidental. He also announced Potter’s actions before shooting were consistent with the department’s Taser training.
“This appears to me, from what I’ve viewed and the officer’s reaction and distress immediately after, that this was an accidental discharge that resulted in the tragic death of Mr. Wright,” Gannon stated.
- Brooklyn Center Police Department released a bodycam video of the situation at a news conference. Gannon said he wanted to release the video for the sake of transparency. Additionally, he adds that the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), who identified Potter as the suspect, does not condone the releasing of videos in ongoing investigations.
- Crowds began to gather around the crash site during the afternoon. After 6 p.m., protestors took down the crime scene tape. Alongside the victim’s family, the public began demanding answers from law enforcement. KARE 11 recorded aerial footage of the location that showed several police cars surrounded by angry civilians. Many also tried to damage the vehicles.
- Later that night, a group of 100 to 200 citizens marched to the Brooklyn Center Police Department. CNN disclosed that officers held a line outside of the building. Also, some officers were positioned at the top. Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) Commissioner John Harrington said people were throwing rocks and other things at the establishment. Reports of shots being fired were also released. The majority of protestors were later on dispersed, according to Harrington. Furthermore, another group went to Shingle Creek Mall and broke into around 20 businesses. Law enforcement arrested two people, according to Gannon.
- Brooklyn Center is less than 10 miles away from Minneapolis, where just last summer, Officer Derek Chauvin killed George Floyd. The shooting, which occurred during the period of Chauvin’s trial, sparked outrage in the neighboring town. More than a half-dozen businesses in Minneapolis’ Lake Street, the place with some of the most intense violence last summer, boarded up their windows. Officials announced a curfew from 7 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the town. Schools chose to suspend in-person classes for the time being. Sports teams canceled their games for safety concerns. Furthermore, National Guard vehicles went to some major intersections. Although Minneapolis was met on Saturday with peaceful protests, the Washington Post also says some police-civilian clashes and some looting.
- Minneapolis officials additionally fear the outcome if Chauvin is acquitted or sentenced with lesser charges. Local leaders are currently spending $1 million on security, bringing in many law enforcement, and erecting fences topped with barbed wire. The case’s verdict may come in this month. However, many community administrators worry security might be insufficient. If the result is not guilty or Chauvin is sentenced lowly, this may happen.
Ben Crump, the Wright family’s attorney, maintains the shooting was “completely avoidable” and “inhumane.” As a result of Sunday, Potter has been placed on administrative leave. However, residents and activists are calling for her removal. In addition, protestors would like Gannon to resign after the described “heavy-handed response to demonstrations Sunday night.”
