On April, 11, 2021, Daunte Wright, a 20-year-old African American male, was shot and killed by officer Kim Potter, a 26-year veteran, during a traffic stop in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. This is just 10 miles from the location where Derek Chauvin is on trial of the murder of George Floyd.
According to the chief of police, Tim Gannon, officers pulled Wright over for expired tags. However, when Wright was pulled over he called his mother and told her that the officers had pulled him over because he had air fresheners hanging from his rearview mirror. While conducting the stop, officers were notified that there was a warrant out for his arrest. As the police attempted to detain Wright, he got back into his car, resulting in a struggle with the officers. In the body camera footage, an officer can be seen aiming a handgun at Wright shouting “taser”. After Wright pulls away in his car, one of the officers can be heard yelling ” I just shot him” to the two other officers. Wright drove several blocks before hitting another vehicle. The police and medical team declared Wright dead at the scene. Chief Gannon believes that the officer who shot Wright intended to use her taser, but accidentally used her gun.
Court records indicate that the warrant for Daunte Wright was for a missed court appearance.
Both Officer Kim Potter and Chief Tim Gannon have resigned from their positions.
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