Killing of Daunte Wright

Killing of Daunte Wright

Part of the 2020–2021 Minneapolis–Saint Paul racial justice protests and 2020–2021 United States racial unrest
Location of Brooklyn Center, Minnesota.
Date	April 11, 2021 (2021-04-11)
Time	c. 2:00 p.m. (CST)
Location	Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, United States
Coordinates	45.0692586°N 93.3410705°W / 45.0692586; -93.3410705
Type	Shooting
Deaths	Daunte Wright
Accused	Officer Kimberly Potter
Charges	Second degree manslaughter
Shooting under investigation

On April 11, 2021, Daunte Demetrius Wright, a 20-year-old African-American man, was fatally shot by police officer Kimberly Ann Potter during a traffic stop and attempted arrest for outstanding felony warrants in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. After a brief struggle with officers, Wright was shot, and then attempted to flee but crashed his vehicle into another and hit a cement barrier. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The following day, police said that Potter meant to use her Taser but accidentally grabbed her gun instead, striking Wright with one shot to his chest. Two days later, Potter and Brooklyn Center police chief Tim Gannon resigned from their positions, and Potter fled her home after her address was leaked on social media. On April 14, Potter was charged with second-degree manslaughter, arrested, and remanded to the Hennepin County Jail.

The shooting sparked protests in Brooklyn Center and renewed ongoing demonstrations against police brutality in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area, leading to citywide and regional curfews. Demonstrations have also spread to cities across the United States.

Participants

Daunte Wright

Daunte Demetrius Wright was a 20-year-old Black American man. He was the father of a young child.

On April 2, 2021, a judge issued a warrant for Wright after he missed a court appearance. He was facing two misdemeanor charges after Minneapolis police cited him in June 2020 for carrying a pistol without a permit and trying to evade their orders.

Kimberly Potter

At the time of the shooting, Kimberly Ann Potter, a White American woman, was a 48-year-old police officer in the Brooklyn Center Police Department (BCPD). She had worked for the department since 1995. At the time of the shooting, Potter was field training another officer.

Incident

Traffic stop

External videos
Raw footage of the shooting from Potter's body camera on YouTube (56 s)

50m
55yds

2

1

  

Key:

1

Wright pulled over, shot

2

Wright crashed car, pronounced dead

At around 2:00 p.m. local time on April 11, 2021, Brooklyn Center police pulled over Wright on 63rd Avenue North for traffic violations, as the vehicle's registration tag had expired, and an object was hanging from his rearview mirror, which is prohibited by Minnesota state law.

Officers ran Wright's name through a police database and learned that he had an open arrest warrant stemming from pending charges for first-degree felony aggravated robbery with a firearm. The warrant alleged Wright assaulted and choked a woman before robbing her at gunpoint of $820. After posting $100,000 bail, Wright had allegedly violated the terms of his release by again possessing a firearm. Based on that information, police attempted to arrest him.

A police body camera showed three officers approaching a white Buick LaCrosse. An officer on the driver's side opened a door and Wright stepped out of the car. Wright had his hands behind his back as an officer attempted to put on handcuffs. An officer later identified as Potter approached Wright and the other officer. Wright struggled with the officers, broke free, and got back behind the wheel of his vehicle. Potter said, "I'll tase you", and then yelled, "Taser! Taser! Taser!" Potter discharged her lethal firearm instead of a taser, and then said, "Oh shit, I just shot him." Potter was holding the firearm for at least seven seconds before discharging it. At the time of the shooting, Potter was field training another officer.

After being shot, Wright drove off; after driving about 470 feet (140 m), he collided with another vehicle near the intersection of 63rd Avenue North and Kathrene Drive. Officers administered CPR, but Wright was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:18 p.m. A female passenger in the vehicle, Wright's girlfriend, was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, and no one in the other vehicle was injured.

Phone call

Wright's mother spoke with reporters and said her son had phoned her during the traffic stop. She said she had overheard what sounded like a scuffle and an officer saying, "Daunte, don't run" before the phone hung up and that her son had been pulled over for having an air freshener hanging from his rear-view mirror, which is illegal in Minnesota.

Investigations and legal proceedings

Brooklyn Center police response

On the morning of April 12, Brooklyn Center police chief Tim Gannon held a press conference and played a clip of the body camera footage. According to him, Potter intended to use a taser on Wright but pulled out and discharged her gun instead. Potter was placed on "standard administrative leave" by the Brooklyn Center police pending further investigation.

On April 13, Potter and Gannon both submitted their resignations from the Brooklyn Center police department, with Potter's resignation effective immediately. Potter wrote the following message in a letter to city officials: "I am tendering my resignation from the Brooklyn Center Police Department effective immediately. I have loved every minute of being a police officer and serving this community to the best of my ability, but I believe it is in the best interest of the community, the department, and my fellow officers if I resign immediately."

State and county investigation

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) launched an investigation of the shooting per standard process in the state. On the evening of April 12, the BCA identified Potter as the officer who shot Wright.

Though the incident occurred in Hennepin County, the officer's conduct is under review by Washington County, per an agreement with other metropolitan counties to handle officer-involved shootings in such a way as to avoid a perceived conflict of interest. Washington County Attorney Pete Orput said he was planning to complete a "thorough yet expedited" review of potential criminal charges in the case. On April 14, he announced Potter would be charged with second-degree manslaughter.

Autopsy

The Hennepin County medical examiner's report released on April 12 determined the manner of death to be homicide, concluding that Wright had "died of a gunshot wound of the chest".

Legal proceedings

On April 12, Wright's family hired civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump. Potter is represented by Earl Gray, a St. Paul-based attorney known for defending Thomas Lane and Jeronimo Yanez.

On the morning of April 14, Potter was charged with second-degree manslaughter by the Washington County Attorney's Office. She was arrested and booked into the county jail, but posted bail and was released from custody, with her first court appearance scheduled for April 15.

Reactions

Protests and unrest

Main article: Daunte Wright protests

Further information: 2020–2021 Minneapolis–Saint Paul racial justice protests § Daunte Wright protests, April 11–ongoing

Vigil for Wright on April 11, 2021, down the road from where he was killed

Following the shooting, mourners and protesters gathered near the scene to demand justice for Wright. Several protesters came from another rally organized by families of people who had been killed by police that occurred earlier in the day in nearby Saint Paul, Minnesota. Police with riot control equipment attempted to restrain the crowd of several hundred people outside of a police precinct. Some in the crowd became unruly, hurling projectiles such as rocks at officers. There was also looting, as more than 20 businesses were damaged in the riot, and police vehicles were vandalized.

Brooklyn Center Mayor Mike Elliott issued a citywide curfew until 6:00 a.m. the following morning and local schools were closed out of "an abundance of caution", according to Brooklyn Center Community Schools Superintendent Dr. Carly Baker, with students instead attending virtually. The National Guard was activated to assist with dispelling the violence.

His mother, Katie Wright, pleaded for peace saying, "All the violence, if it keeps going it's only going to be about the violence. We need it to be about why my son got shot for no reason...We need to make sure it's about him and not about smashing police cars, because that's not going to bring my son back."

On April 12, in reaction to the unrest, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz enacted a 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. curfew throughout much of the Minneapolis-Saint Paul region: in Hennepin, Ramsey, Anoka, and Dakota counties. Protesters and police clashed for the second night as police fired gas canisters and flash-bang grenades at protesters after the start of curfew. Some protesters, wearing gas masks, picked up smoke canisters and threw them back at police. About 40 arrests were made ranging from curfew violation to rioting.

In an April 13 interview with ABC News anchor Robin Roberts, both of Wright's parents, Katie and Aubrey Wright, thanked people for protesting and advocated again for people to continue doing so peacefully.

Public officials

Protesters gather near the location in Brooklyn Center where Wright died, on evening of April 11, 2021

Brooklyn Center Mayor Mike Elliott said in a tweet the evening of April 11, "The officer shooting in Brooklyn Center today is tragic. We are asking the protesters to continue to be peaceful and that peaceful protesters are not dealt with with force." Elliott said on April 12 that Potter should be fired.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said in a tweet at 10:00 p.m. on April 11, "I am closely monitoring the situation in Brooklyn Center. Gwen and I are praying for Daunte Wright’s family as our state mourns another life of a Black man taken by law enforcement."

Senator Tina Smith of Minnesota said on the morning of April 12, "A difficult night in Minnesota. We mourn with Daunte Wright's family as another Black man's life is lost at the hands of law enforcement."

Brooklyn Center Police Chief Tim Gannon said at an April 12 press conference, "I have watched the video myself, and there is nothing I can say to lessen the pain of Mr. Wright's family, friends loved ones of that feeling of loss they must have. That pain is shared by the community and all those involved in the incident." On April 13, Gannon announced his resignation, alongside that of Potter. Brooklyn Center City Council had recommended their firing during an emergency meeting on April 12.

City manager Curt Boganey, speaking at a BCPD press conference: "All employees working for the city of Brooklyn Center are entitled to due process with respect to discipline." The same day, the Brooklyn Center City Council gave Mayor Elliott command authority over the city police force and Boganey was fired.

President Joe Biden said about the incident and unrest, "Peaceful protest is understandable. And the fact is that we do know that the anger, pain and trauma that exists in Black community in that environment is real – it's serious, and it's consequential. But that does not justify violence. We should listen to Daunte's mom who is calling for peace and calm." Vice President Kamala Harris said "Daunte's family...needs answers" on Twitter.

Celebrities and public figures

Protest at Brooklyn Center police station, April 12, 2021

The NAACP released a statement saying "Whether it be carelessness and negligence, or a blatant modern-day lynching, the result is the same. Another Black man has died at the hands of police."

Former President Barack Obama said of the incident, "Our hearts are heavy over yet another shooting of a Black man, Daunte Wright, at the hands of police. It’s important to conduct a full and transparent investigation, but this is also a reminder of just how badly we need to reimagine policing and public safety in this country."

Archbishop Bernard Hebda of the Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis offered prayers and condolences to all parties concerned, adding: "While early indications point towards the shooting being accidental, I encourage allowing investigators from the [BCA] to complete a thorough investigation before coming to any personal judgments as to what occurred."

Al Sharpton said: "You can die for having expired tags or for a phony 20 dollar bill or you may have not even known was a phony 20 dollar bill. It wouldn't happen in any other community."

Although earlier in the day the Minnesota Twins had issued a statement postponing their Target Field home game, after the announcement of the curfew, the Wild postponed their home game in the St. Paul Xcel Energy Center and the Timberwolves postponed their game in the Minneapolis Target Center. The Minnesota Vikings released a statement which said in part: "This avoidable situation is yet another tragic reminder of the drastic need for change in law enforcement."

Protesters in New York City on April 12

Aaron Hicks of the New York Yankees sat out the Yankees' April 12 game against the Toronto Blue Jays in protest of the shooting of Wright.

Other celebrities speaking out included Kerry Washington, Trevor Noah, George Takei, Ray Fisher, Kathy Griffin, Common, and Doc Rivers.

Current and former NFL players including Doug Baldwin, Jr., Torrey Smith, Emmanuel Acho and Marcus Lattimore also made statements.

Family

Wright's mother talked about seeing her son's body over FaceTime at a press conference on April 13. George Floyd's girlfriend, who was also one of Wright's former teachers, attended the press conference for support. Relatives of at least six black men killed by the police and a family member of Emmett Till were also present.

Earlier that day, both parents appeared on Good Morning America, his father saying: "I lost my son, he's never coming back...I can't accept that -- a mistake, that doesn't even sound right," he added. "This officer has been on the force for 26 years. I can't accept that."

Kimberly Potter

On April 13, Potter fled her home in the Minneapolis suburb of Champlin after her address was posted to social media. Local police fortified Potter’s home with fencing and concrete barriers, and some neighbors were reported to have left the area.

See also

• 2020–21 United States racial unrest
• 2015 shooting of Eric Harris
• Killing of George Floyd
• Shooting of Justine Damond
• Shooting of Philando Castile

• Lists of killings by law enforcement officers in the United States

External links

• City of Brooklyn Center, official website
• Body camera footage posted by KARE-11, via YouTube