Cop Who Shot Daunte Wright Released From Jail on Bail After Manslaughter Charge
Cop Who Shot Daunte Wright Released From Jail on Bail After Manslaughter Charge
The police officer who shot and killed Daunte Wright, a twenty-year-old Black man, has been charged with second-degree manslaughter and released on bail.
Here's the full story...
On Sunday, April 11th, Daunte Wright was pulled over in Minnesota for a traffic violation.
And things were quick to take a very sinister turn.
Shocking bodycam footage has since been released of the officers' confrontation with Wright, an unarmed twenty-year-old Black man.
After pulling Wright - a father of 1 - over for the traffic violation and handcuffing him, officers soon realized there was an outstanding warrant for his arrest.
But Wright suddenly attempted to reenter his car and escape while being handcuffed, prompting a struggle with the officers.
"I'll tase ya!" a female police officer is heard shouting as the young man tries to get back into his car.
"Taser, Taser, Taser!" she shouts...
But instead of firing a tase gun, she fires a handgun directly at Wright instead.
"Oh s***! I just shot him," she's then heard saying after pulling the trigger.
Wright slams down on the accelerator as he's shot, causing his car to speed away.
He managed to drive several blocks before crashing and dying from a gunshot wound to his chest, according to the medical examiner, as per Sky News.
From the moment Wright's death was announced to the public, outrage was triggered...
tw // police brutality #DaunteWright, a 20 year old father of a two year old, was killed by police in Brooklyn Center. He was on the way to have his car washed when he was pulled over by the police for having an air freshener obstructing the view of the rear view mirror. pic.twitter.com/WHfcpNP7rD
— io⁷ (@diorthewhore) April 12, 2021
And people have been demanding justice for yet another Black man to die at the hands of the police here in America.
Prayers are not enough. Daunte Wright should still be with us. While an investigation is underway, our nation needs justice and healing, and Daunte’s family needs to know why their child is dead—they deserve answers.
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) April 13, 2021
Daunte Wright should be alive tonight. And America must respond to the pain and trauma caused by injustices that Black Americans face every day.
— Secretary Pete Buttigieg (@SecretaryPete) April 13, 2021
BLACK LIVES STILL MATTER. JUSTICE FOR DAUNTE WRIGHT. pic.twitter.com/rf3bsidk3W
— jess 🔞 (@jesssicajones) April 13, 2021
Daunte Wright was murdered. Say his name. Keep saying his name. #DaunteWright
— Your Friendly, Neighborhood Smirk-Man! (@MKerklin) April 13, 2021
Now I’m seeing this! Here we are saying prayers for ANOTHER family because ANOTHER reckless officer exposed themself at the expense of ANOTHER Black human being. I’m so sorry Daunte Wright 💔 You are so much more than...ANOTHER. I will NEVER get used to this https://t.co/VKStCKpzNo
— Regina King (@ReginaKing) April 13, 2021
Young people are precious. I think about how funny and sweet my child is. How we worry about them. How beautiful #DaunteWright is and how much he is loved. How he will be missed forever by his baby and his friends and family. For nothing. For nothing. For nothing. JUSTICE NOW.
— Gabrielle Miller (@MillerGabrielle) April 13, 2021
*Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, white, walking right by police with his hands up after killing 2 men. They ignore him.
— Amy Siskind 🏳️🌈 (@Amy_Siskind) April 13, 2021
* Daunte Wright, 20, Black, after being pulled over for expired tags is shot and killed by police.
THIS IS BROKEN!!! pic.twitter.com/Q6zQGfB536
I am sick to my stomach and infuriated by the killing of #DaunteWright. My heart goes out to his family and every one of my Black friends and colleagues dealing with the endless trauma. https://t.co/DjS7LdYTIp
— Michael Montano (@michaelmontano) April 13, 2021
On the evening following the tragic event, several hundred people defied the curfew and gathered at the Brooklyn Center police station in protest of Wright's untimely death.
But sadly, it didn't take long for things to turn violent.
Officers in riot gear fired gas canisters and flash-bang grenades after some demonstrators threw bottles and other objects at the station...
And the anger and emotion in the air was undeniable.
Wright's mother, Katie Wright, was also present at the protest.
She later revealed to KARE 11 that she was on the phone with her son as he got pulled over and heard the "scuffle."
"A minute later, I called and his girlfriend answered, who was the passenger in the car, and said that he'd been shot and she put it on the driver's side, and my son was laying there, lifeless."
She then said:
"My heart is broken in a thousand pieces... I miss him so much, and it's only been a day. He was my life, he was my son and I can never get that back. Because of a mistake? Because of an accident?"
It's utterly heartbreaking to lose yet another life at the hands of police brutality...
But right now, all eyes are on one person... and that's the female police officer who pulled the trigger on this young man.
The police officer has since been identified by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension as Kim Potter, a twenty-six-year veteran of the police department.
Ofc. Kim Potter killed Daunte Wright — but did she know the difference between a handgun and a taser? The facts:
— Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) April 13, 2021
‼️ 26 years as a police officer — She was 6 YEARS into her career when Daunte was BORN!
‼️ Serves as police union president
‼️ Defended questionable actions before... pic.twitter.com/M9eMU7Tyjw
Brooklyn Center Police Chief Tim Gannon told reporters on Tuesday he believes the officer meant to reach for her taser but instead grabbed her gun.
"This appears to me, from what I viewed and the officer's reaction and distress immediately after, that this was an accidental discharge that resulted in the tragic death of Mr. Wright," Gannon said, as per BuzzFeed News.
Gannon would not comment directly on whether she would be fired...
But added, "I think we can watch the video and ascertain whether she will be returning."
Brooklyn Center Mayor Mike Elliott then said that he supported Potter being terminated.
Just got off the phone with Daunte’s father to offer my condolences. I cannot begin to imagine the pain his family is going through right now, but we grieve with you for your loss. I also assured him that I will do everything to ensure justice is served. pic.twitter.com/7D8JazK0dZ
— Mayor Mike Elliott (@mayor_elliott) April 12, 2021
"My position is that we cannot afford to make mistakes that lead to the loss of life of other people in our profession, so I do fully support releasing the officer of her duties."
Kim Potter, along with Police Chief Tim Gannon, eventually handed in her resignation on Tuesday...
BREAKING: Brooklyn Center police officer Kim Potter has resigned effective immediately. The information comes from the police union representing the department's officers. Here's Potter's resignation letter #DaunteWright #wcco pic.twitter.com/yvSQ68sk2T
— Jennifer Mayerle (@jennifermayerle) April 13, 2021
Potter wrote a letter to Mayor Mike Elliott, City Manager Reggie Edwards, and Police Chief Tim Gannon, saying: "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."
And then yesterday, Potter was charged with second-degree manslaughter.
Breaking on @MSNBC: Kim Potter to be charged with 2nd Degree Manslaughter in the Daunte Wright case. @NBCNews
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) April 14, 2021
Washington County Attorney Pete Orput confirmed the charge with multiple news outlets, explaining it will be filed later on Wednesday.
The charging decision came at the end of what Orput described as a "thorough yet expedited" investigation into the shooting by the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
Officer Kim Potter killed Daunte Wright. She has been a cop for 25 years/president of the Brooklyn Center Police Officer's Association, and can’t tell the difference between a taser and a glock. pic.twitter.com/ELkbAmFshU
— BallerAlert (@balleralert) April 13, 2021
A second-degree manslaughter charge carries a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and a $20,000 fine.
But now, Potter has been released from jail on bail.
Former Brooklyn Center Police Officer Kim Potter has posted bail and is no longer listed on the Hennepin County Jail roster. #DaunteWright
— Omar Jimenez (@OmarJimenez) April 14, 2021
And people are furious...
She kills someone and goes home. People arrested for breaking curfew last night are still in the jail. WTF?!
— Me (@Happiness8340) April 14, 2021
She was in jail just long enough to take a picture and leave. This system is so sick and wrong.
— Melissa (@melissa_bellle) April 14, 2021
Despite originally being held without bail...
Kim Potter is already out on $100k bail. https://t.co/UHzeTsOerW pic.twitter.com/osszkK7r97
— Woobie🦋Tuesday (@WoobieTuesday) April 15, 2021
Potter has been released from Hennepin County jail after posting a $100,000 bond.
Rest in Peace, Daunte.
Our deepest thoughts and condolences go out to his family during this terrible time, and we hope justice will soon be served.
This is a developing story and updates will be posted accordingly.
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