In their first public press conference, family members of Daunte Wright, the 20-year-old Black man shot and killed by police in Brooklyn Center, Minn., expressed grief and anger, called for . The family of Daunte Wright said they felt "cheated" of justice on Friday after the white former Minnesota police officer Kim Potter received just 24 months in prison for the manslaughter of . . [22] They were on their way to a car wash.[20][23] Kimberly Potter was a passenger in a patrol car with a trainee officer who observed Wright's vehicle signaling a right turn while it was in a left-turning lane. [130], Selection for the trial's twelve jurors and two alternative jurors took place from November 30 to December 3. I can't accept that.". Potter shot and killed Wright, saying she had mistaken her gun for a Taser. ", "Protests erupt after death of Daunte Wright, 20-year-old Black man shot by police during traffic stop: What we know", "Protests erupt in Minneapolis suburb after deadly officer-involved shooting", "Daunte Wright shooting: Protesters clash with police after curfew in Minnesota; Vice President Harris calls for 'justice and healing', "Medical examiner declares Daunte Wright death a homicide", "Brooklyn Center chief: Cop meant to use Taser on Wright; curfew in effect in metro area", "Second night of unrest after fatal police shooting of Daunte Wright outside Minneapolis", "Officer who shot Daunte Wright identified", "Officer who shot, killed Daunte Wright and Brooklyn Center police chief both resign", "The officer who fatally shot Daunte Wright just resigned, as did the chief of police", "Brooklyn Center City Council recommends firing police chief, officer after shooting", "Daunte Wright news: Kim Potter flees home as unrest expected ahead of charging decision Wednesday", "Mayor asks for Minnesota attorney general to take up Daunte Wright shooting case", "Ex-officer Kim Potter to be charged with second-degree manslaughter in Daunte Wright case", "Former Brooklyn Center officer arrested, to be charged with manslaughter in Daunte Wright's death", "Daunte Wright Shooting: Fmr. [146][147], Alayna Albrecht-Payton, the passenger in Wright's vehicle during the incident on April 11, 2021, filed a civil lawsuit against the city of Brooklyn Center in mid 2022. "But it doesnt -- will not justify violence and/or looting. Under the policy, police officers would still be able to make an arrest if an offender posed a safety threat. Wright. [75] Ali had been serving as the prosecution's Washington County co-counsel, with Orput, prior to the state Attorney General's office taking over the case. [143] In explaining her sentencing decision, Chu said the case was unusual, and that Potter made a "tragic mistake" of thinking that she drew her taser instead of her firearm while in a chaotic situation. [92][93] Air fresheners became a symbol at protests and rallies over Wright's death, referring to one of the violations police alleged Wright committed the day of the shooting. There is no true justice for the Wrights because Daunte is never coming home, co-counsel Jeff Storms said in the statement. "Daunte put the phone down, I heard some scuffling. The car sped off, traveling several blocks before crashing into another vehicle. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much [156] In December 2021, the city council passed a $1.3 million plan for alternative public safety programs, such as the use of unarmed workers to enforce nonmoving traffic violations and mental health response teams. "[118], The evening of April 11, 2021, mourners and protesters held an evening vigil for Wright near the Brooklyn Center location were he was killed. Ben Crump. [16][21] Potter, who was acting as a field training officer, initially stood back. "A second goes by, and I hear the police officer come back up to the window and ask Daunte to get out of the car," she said. Did you encounter any technical issues? "[139] Potter, during her statement prior to the sentencing being read, apologized to Wright's family and to the community of Brooklyn Center, saying Wright "is not more than one thought away from my heart, and I have no right for that, for him to be in my heart. She shuddered with grief, held by members of her family. He planned to get his GED and workedto support his son, Daunte Jr. "[30][31][36][37][38][39][a], Potter's pistol, a Glock 9mm model, was entirely black,[40] partially made of metal,[41] and weighed 2.11 pounds (0.96kg) when loaded. Distractify is a registered trademark. [128] Amanda Montgomery, Paul Engh and Earl Gray represented Potter. He was my baby. Floyd had been murdered during an arrest by Derek Chauvin of the Minneapolis police department on May 25, 2020. ", "Peaceful protests, understandable, and the fact is that, you know, we do know that the anger pain and trauma that exists in the Back community, and that environment is real, it's serious, and it's consequential," Biden told reporters. Daunte Wright, a 20-year-old Black man, was shot and killed by police in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, on Sunday. [46][47] Immediately after shooting Wright, she was still holding the piece of paper with her left hand. A source with knowledge of the investigation told ABC News that Potter was field training another officer at the time of the deadly shooting. ", The parents said they want to see "justice served" and the officer who shot their son "held accountable for everything that she's taken from us." We should listen to Daunte's mom who is calling for peace and calm. He was just your average 20-year-old," Bryant said Tuesday after his family held a news conference in downtown Minneapolis to draw attention to the fatal shooting. National Guard troops were already deployed in Minneapolis for the ongoing murder trial of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer charged in the May 2020 death of Floyd, which ignited protests nationwide and abroad. During trial, Potter said, I didnt want to hurt anybody., Daunte Wright's mother was approached and grabbed by police while trying to film a traffic stop, I was very distraught. 22 Apr, 2021 11:16 PM 5 minutes to read. Courtesy Ben Crump Law. Wright's family settled a wrongful death lawsuit with the City of Brooklyn Center on June 21, 2022, for $3.25 million. [65] According to The Independent, Potter fled her home for safety reasons after her address was leaked on social media. Daunte Wright's mother, Katie Wright, said after the sentencing that Potter "murdered my son," adding: "Today the justice system murdered him all over again." She also accused the judge of being taken in by "white woman's tears" after Potter cried during her pre-sentencing statement. Wright, who grew up in the Minneapolis area, was an adoring father with siblings and parents he loved, according to his mother, Katie Wright. [126], The Minnesota Attorney General's office served as the prosecution with Matthew Frank, an assistant attorney general, as the lead prosecutor. Another Black man has died at the hands of police. The police departments of Roeland Park, Kansas,[159] and St. Ann, Missouri,[160] made changes to their Taser policies, with Roeland Park police saying they would cross draw Tasers with "no exceptions", and St. Ann police saying they would only use yellow Tasers and require officers to carry them opposite their main weapon. Wrightloved to goof around, play sports and drive the car he had just been given by a family member, relatives and family friendssaid at a news conference Tuesday. Janet Rupert, who works the night shift in a local intensive care unit. Daunte Wright's wake draws family, community and activists . We are asking the protesters to continue to be peaceful and that peaceful protesters are not dealt with with force. [86][87] The next day, April 12, protests spread to nearby locations in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area and then to other cities in the United States. The family of Daunte Wright on Tuesday dismissed the initial conclusion by police that his fatal shooting by an officer who fired her gun instead of a Taser during a traffic stop was an accident. "Daunte said, 'For what, am I in trouble?' [95][96], Protest demonstrations resumed during the trial of Kimberly Potter in late 2021. The City and Insurance Trust believe the early resolution of this matter will permit the family to begin the healing process and will give the City an opportunity to rebuild the relationship between its Police Department and the community, attorney Jason M. Hiveley added. She . The GoFundMe page was . Daunte Wright's mother, Katie Wright, told ABC News that her son had called her during the traffic stop. Officer Kim Potter, part of the Brooklyn Center Police negotiation team, in a photo taken on May 31, 2007. Potter fatally shot Wright after initially pulling him over for an expired registration tag on his car. Wright provided his name but did not have a driver's license or proof-of-insurance card. During the stop, police learned Wright had an outstanding warrant; when Potter and a trainee officer attempted to arrest him, Wright tried to drive off. [148], Wright's death was one of several instances in which a police officer admitted to firing a handgun when intending to draw and discharge a Taser, such as a 2002 shooting in Rochester, Minnesota,[149] the fatal 2009 shooting of Oscar Grant by a Bay Area Rapid Transit officer in Oakland, California, and the deadly 2015 shooting of Eric Harris by a volunteer reserve deputy in Tulsa, Oklahoma. People involved Daunte Wright. [42] Her Taser, made of plastic, was mostly yellow,[43][44][40] and weighed 0.94 pounds (0.43kg). Wright's mother, Katie, said, "she [Potter] never once said his name. Hundreds have attended the funeral of Daunte Wright including George Floyd's family. Holy sh*t! [18][15], Alayna Albrecht-Payton, a 20-year-old resident of Saint Paul, Minnesota,[19] and Wright's girlfriend, was sitting in the passenger's seat of the vehicle and was injured in the crash. "I tried to call back three, four times, and the girl that was with him answered the phone, and she said that they shot him and he was lying in the driver's seat unresponsive," Katie explained during the interview, adding, "And then I heard an officer ask her to hang up the phone again and then after that, that's the last time I've seen my son. View 95 comments. His death, ruled a homicide,has raised questions in a region already at the epicenter of protests and promises of police reform amid the killing of Black men by police in the United States. [72], Attorney General Ellison's office took over the prosecution on May 21. . Changes are expected to include training on police intervention, implicit bias, weapons confusion, de-escalation as well as how to handle situations arising during mental health crises, the attorneys explained. She said he told her that police had pulled him over due to air fresheners hanging in his rear view mirror. On February 18, 2022, she was sentenced to sixteen months in prison, with credit for time served. [78] Governor Tim Walz implemented another curfew in several counties spanning the night of April 12 through the morning of April 13 and deployed the Minnesota National Guard while Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey declared a state of emergency and a citywide curfew. "It's about giving the same respect and consideration to people of color that we give to white American citizens. He had sisters and brothers that he loved so much," Katie Wright said. Daunte Wright was a living, breathing human being, who loved, and was loved by his family and friends," Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison wrote in a pre-sentencing filing. Daunte Wright's killing has sparked demonstrations -- some violent -- in Brooklyn Center, Minneapolis, Portland, New York and other cities. ", President Joe Biden on Monday also called for "peace" and "calm. Im sorry it happened, she said after a prosecutor asked about her behavior following the shooting. But that does not justify violence. ", She added, "He liked sports, just kind of goofing around and he was very funny.". April 13, 2021 11:52 AM PT. Im so sorry., Prosecutors argued accidents can be crimes if they happen due to recklessness or culpable negligence., Following the conviction, Wrights mother, Katie Bryant, told CNN, Justice would be Daunte being home. Wright's family said at the scene that he was the father of a son, Daunte Wright Jr., who will turn 2 in July, Star Tribune reporter Kim Hyatt tweeted. Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump -- who has represented the families of Trayvon Martin, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and more -- is one of the lawyers representing the Wright family and said that fatal encounters between police and people of color will only stop "when we start treating each other all the same. Rupert conducted one of the corporate prayers during the vigil, where she called for peace as well comfort for the family of Daunte Wright. Two days after the incident, Potter and Brooklyn Center police chief Tim Gannon resigned from their positions. Naisha Wright called her nephew's death "murder" and demanded that the officer be held to the "highest" standard in the law. "This officer has been on the force for 26 years. [158], Several other policing changes were made outside of the U.S. state of Minnesota in response to Wright's death. [24][27] Potter, who had her Taser holstered on her left side and her gun on her right, said, "I'll tase you," and then yelled, "Taser! [24] The trainee officer on the driver's side attempted to prevent Wright from obtaining control of the steering wheel. "[114], Soon after the incident, Wright's mother spoke with reporters and said her son had phoned her during the traffic stop. A GoFundMe page for a memorial fund for Wright has so far raised over $560,000 as of Wednesday morning. He loved his family and his baby boy. Daunte Wright's parents have spoken out about their son's death, saying that they "can't accept" that his killing was "a mistake". [54][55][19], The Hennepin County medical examiner's office released a report on April 12 that determined the manner of death to be homicide and concluded that Wright had "died of a gunshot wound of the chest. That pain is shared by the community and all those involved in the incident. 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. If Potter is convicted of killing Daunte, LeMay said, 'at least his parents will get . ", "I tried to call back three, four times and the girl that was with him answered the phone and she said that they shot him and he was lying in the driver's seat unresponsive," the mother recalled, with tears streaming down her face. But he was so much more, his mother stressed. The 20-year-old needed to get . Tuesday's news conference was organized by groups supporting families of victims of police violenceand attorney Ben Crump, who is representing the Wright family and alsoisthe attorney for the Floyd family. "[84] Elliott said on April 12 that Potter should be fired. BROOKLYN CENTER, Minn. Demonstrators gathered outside the Brooklyn Center police headquarters Wednesday demanding justice and accountability for the fourth night in a row over the fatal shooting of Daunte Wright, a 20-year-old Black man, by a police officer earlier this week.. [24][25][21][26], After pulling the vehicle over, the trainee officer approached Wright's vehicle. [29] Potter then discharged her firearm, instead of her Taser, a single time using her right hand, and subsequently said, "Oh shit, I just shot him. "He was connected to people, people knowing him and being in that community and of course feeling outraged," she said. ", Vice President Kamala Harris told reporters Tuesday that Daunte Wright "should be alive. [16][27] The trainee officer approached the driver's side door and the supervisor approached the passenger's side door. Wright family attorneys Benjamin Crump and . ", This page was last edited on 1 March 2023, at 15:03. ", "I can't accept that -- a mistake, that doesn't even sound right," he added. [67] On April 13, Washington County Attorney Pete Orput said he was planning to complete a "thorough yet expedited" review of potential criminal charges in the case. [74], On September 2, Ellison's office added the charge of first-degree manslaughter, predicated on reckless use/handling of a firearm, a more serious charge than second-degree manslaughter and carrying a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $30,000 fine. Daunte Wright. The family of Daunte Wright celebrate a guilty verdict for Kim Potter outside of the Hennepin County Government Center on Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021, in Minneapolis. Before Katie Wright spoke,the families, many of whom knew each other from their unfortunate bond, hugged and prayed that "heaven opens up and justice rains down on us.". ", "He had a 2-year-old son that's not going to be able to play basketball with him. [136][137] Following the verdict, Potter was taken into custody and transferred to the state's Women's Correctional Facility in Shakopee. I can't accept that. Civil lawsuits settled by Brooklyn Center: McKinney, Matt and Kim Hyatt (August 22, 2021). Family and friends of Daunte Wright, 20, grieve after they say he was shot and killed by police on 11 April 2021 in Brooklyn Center (AP) The death of a 20-year-old Black man, Daunte Wright , in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota on Sunday has sparked protests against the police even as tensions were already running high due to the murder trial of a . A curfew was imposed in Brooklyn Center, Minneapolis and other parts of Minnesota on Monday evening, and dozens of people were arrested amid riots overnight, according to Col. Matt Langer of the Minnesota State Patrol. I can't accept that.". In the wake of Daunte Wright's tragic death during an interaction with Minnesota police officers, his parents, Aubrey and Katie Wright, are unhappy with the police chief's claim that the circumstances resulting in the 20-year-old's death were "accidental." My heart is literally broken into athousand pieces.. [152] In 2019, a scuffle in a jail cell led to another accidental shooting by a backup officer in New Hope, Pennsylvania. Daunte Wright was working on 'straightening his life out' for his son, his family told Insider. 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