What you need to know about the death of Daunte Wright

Who was Daunte Wright?

Daunte Wright was a 20-year-old African-American man. He was fatally shot by a police officer on April 11th during a traffic stop in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. The officer was later named as Kim Potter, who has worked for the Brooklyn Center Police for 26 years.

The shooting occurred only about 10 miles from where Derek Chauvin is on trial in the killing of George Floyd.

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What happened?

According to Tim Gannon, the Chief of the Brooklyn Center Police Department, Daunte Wright was pulled over for driving an SUV with expired license plates. When the officer approached the car, he noticed what appeared to be an air freshener hanging from the rear-view mirror, prohibited by law in Minnesota. Officers then discovered that he had a warrant for his arrest.

As the police tried to detain Mr Wright, he stepped back into the car, Chief Gannon said.

On Monday, reporters were shown a graphic video of the scene. One officer can be seen pointing a handgun at him and shouting “Taser.” After the car pulled away, Mr Wright was shot, according to the video.

The car travelled another several blocks before hitting another vehicle. Daunte Wright was pronounced dead at the scene, with the medical examiner concluding he died of a gunshot wound to the chest.

Chief Gannon said he believes that the officer meant to pull a Taser, but instead shot Mr Wright with her service weapon.

Prosecutors have told the US media that the officer who shot Daunte Wright is to be charged with second degree manslaughter.

Both Chief Tim Gannon and Officer Kim Potter have quit the Brooklyn Center force. Despite the resignations, demonstrations broke out and clashes erupted for a third night.

On Tuesday night, projectiles and bottles were thrown at the Brooklyn Center police headquarters. In response, officers fired tear gas, rubber bullets and stun grenades. Over 60 people were arrested.

Another demonstration broke out in Portland, Oregon – the centre of protests last year, after the killing of George Floyd.

This time, about 100 protesters marched and an hour later, flames were seen coming out of the side of the police building.

Josh Hild/ Unsplash

Brooklyn Center Mayor, Mike Elliot, said that he appreciates “the officer stepping down” and he hoped that her resignation “would bring some calm to the community”.

“In this country, if you’re black and you get pulled over by the police, you have a very much higher chance of being dead just because you’re black, and just because you’re encountering police,” he said on NBC’s “TODAY” show on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Wright family held a news conference near the courthouse where Derek Chauvin is on trial for George Floyd’s murder.

His mother, Katie, described what she said to be the worst day of her life. She said her son called after he was pulled over and she offered to give insurance details to the police.

She said she heard an officer telling him to hang up the phone. When she was able to call back, his girlfriend told her he had been shot and showed her the driver seat where Mr Wright was laying, unresponsive.

Relatives of George Floyd joined the family, along with Ben Crump, a lawyer who represents both families.