The guardian
Minnesota police shooting of Daunte Wright: what we know so far
Wright was shot dead by police after being pulled over for a traffic violation at Brooklyn Center near Minneapolis. Protesters took to the streets after 20-year-old Daunte Wright was shot dead during a stop by members of the Brooklyn Center police. on Sunday. Photo: Stephen Maturen / Getty Images Daunte Wright, a 20-year-old black man, was shot dead by police Sunday in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. Demonstrations broke out in the suburb of Minneapolis, where one of the most recent police hearings in recent memory takes place. Police said Monday that the shooting was an “accidental dismissal” and that the officer intended to use a Taser but incorrectly drew a gun. Tensions were already high for the murder trial of Derek Chauvin, a white police officer who knelt for more than nine minutes on the neck of a Black man, George Floyd, last May. Floyd’s death sparked protests and civil unrest in the United States and worldwide, leading to a national settlement of racism. What happened in Brooklyn Center? Wright was shot dead by police in a traffic stop. Family members identified Wright at the scene. The city of about 30,000, ten miles north of Minneapolis, has a large African-American population. Police said they pulled over Wright for a traffic violation. He was found to have an existing warrant, and police tried to arrest him. Wright got back into his vehicle, police fired on the vehicle; Wright was hit and he crashed several blocks later. Katie Wright, a woman who identified herself as Daunte’s mother, said she was telephoning with her son during the traffic stop. He told her he was pulled over because air fresheners were hanging from the rearview mirror that is illegal in Minnesota. She said her family bought Daunte the car two weeks ago. “I heard struggling and heard police officers say, ‘Daunte, do not run,'” she said in tears, according to AP reports. The call ended. When she called his number again, his girlfriend replied and said he was dead in the driver’s seat. It is unclear what warrant may have existed. Under most circumstances, police policy warns against shooting in moving cars. Police said they believe the officer’s body camera was activated during the shooting. How did protesters react? Police said a group of about 100 to 200 gathered at Brooklyn headquarters. Police fired rubber bullets and tear gas into the crowd, who they said threw stones and other objects. Associated Press and local media report that some shops in the area have been broken into. According to Minneapolis Public Radio, at 11:30 p.m., police declared the crowd “illegal” and said anyone on the street – including journalists – would be arrested. According to Minnesota Public Safety Commissioner John Harrington, the protests spread around 1:15 p.m. The local school district has switched to distance education after an ‘abundance of caution’ and a curfew rule was issued until 06:00 on Monday. What do local officials say about what happened? The Brooklyn Center mayor said, “Our entire community is filled with grief after today’s shooting of Daunte Wright” and “our hearts are with his family.” He promised to “ensure that justice is done”, in a message posted on Twitter. According to local media reports, the office of criminal fear in Minneapolis handled the case, and the national guard in Minnesota was at the scene. Minnesota Democratic Gov. Tim Walz has tweeted that he is “keeping a close eye on the situation in downtown Brooklyn” and that he and his wife are “praying for Daunte Wright’s family while our state deplores another life of a black man who taken by law enforcement ‘. Brooklyn Center Police Chief Tim Gannon told a news conference on Monday that the officer in question, who is female but has not yet been nominated, is currently on administrative leave while an investigation is underway, including the recording of the body camera. ‘If you’m right-handed, carry your firearm on your right and your Taser on your left. It is done purposefully and it is trained. While watching the video and listening to the officer’s instructions, I believe the officer intended to use their Taser, but Mr. “Wright fired a single bullet,” the principal said. It was reported that the officer shouted ‘Taser’ and still pulled the gun. Local Mayor Mike Elliott said the fatal shooting incident “could not have happened at a worse time”. Joe Biden is expected to address the shooting later Monday and the White House has contacted Elliott. Just got off the phone with the @WhiteHouse. I appreciate @POTUS for reaching out to offer his administration’s support. pic.twitter.com/ejrttTOhlI— Mayor Mike Elliott (@mayor_elliott) April 12, 2021 Why is tension so high? Brooklyn Center is just 16 miles from Minneapolis, where Chauvin is on trial for second-degree murder and manslaughter in Floyd’s death. The trial has been closely watched worldwide and has already set a precedent as a police chief testified for the prosecution against the officer.