A former white Minneapolis police officer was arrested and charged with manslaughter in the death of a 20-year-old African-American motorist Daunte Wright. The killing first sparked the protests in Brooklyn Center but later led to massive demonstrations across the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area. Also, the death of Daunte Wright renewed the demonstration across the country against police brutality and racial inequality.
On April 11, 2021, during a traffic stop, police officer Kimberly Potter tried to arrest the 20-year-old motorist. Police officers at the scene struggled to capture Wright and later Potter shot him at the close range. Wright attempted to flee the scene and drove a few distances, but his vehicle collided with the barrier. The police officers then pulled him out of the car and administered CPR.
However, the gun shot did its job and the police officer couldn’t save the man. Potter, who shot the 20-year-old resigned two days later from the Brooklyn Center Department. Brooklyn Center police chief Tim Gannon told the reporters that the police officer intended to use a taser but accidentally grabbed a handgun. Also, chief Gannon resigned from his post the same day Potter did.
Kimberly Potter reportedly fled her home after resigning from the department
The 48-year-old veteran police officer fled her home after her home address was leaked on the internet. Later, the authorities arrested her and charged with second-degree manslaughter. However, she has been released after posting a bond worth $100,000. Potter was working on the department since 1995 as a field training officer. At the time of the incident, she was reportedly training a new police officer.
The medical examiner’s officer reported that the 20-year-old died due to gunshot and determined the death as a homicide. Daunte Wright’s death while the whole country was awaiting the outcome of the trial of Derek Chauvin. Chauvin made a headline last year after brutally holding a black man, George Floyd at his neck for almost nine minutes, leading to his death.
Daunte Wright’s family and attorney claimed that the police officer deliberately executed him. An experienced police officer would have known the difference between a Taser and a hand gun, thus disputing the claim that the incident was accidental.
