[76], Following the shooting, mourners and protesters gathered near the scene to demand justice for Wright. 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 . . [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. Former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin is standing . Kelly Bryant, Daunte Wright's aunt, has started a GoFundMe page to cover her nephew's funeral costs. [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. 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. Daunte Wright was driving in Brooklyn Center, about 10 miles northwest of Minneapolis, when he was stopped by police on Sunday afternoon. [144], On April 12, 2021, Wright's family hired civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump. Then he was killed by police. 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. "This officer has been on the force for 26 years. Courtesy Ben Crump Law. Distractify is a registered trademark. murder trial of former officer Derek Chauvin is underway, struggled with a learning disability and dropped out of high school about two years ago, As Daunte Wright's family grieves, police chief and officer resign in Brooklyn Center shooting, GoFundMe page for a memorial fund for Wright, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Daunte Wright was fatally shot by a police officer on April 11. "[116][117] The mother of Wright's son said: "His dad won't get to see him for his second birthday or for any of his birthdays. Daunte Wright, 20, who was shot and killed by Brooklyn Center, Minn., police during a traffic stop Sunday. 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. "He just had his whole life taken away from him. Wright's mother, Katie, said, "she [Potter] never once said his name. Daunte Wright's family mourns a young man killed by police. [134][135], After deliberating for 27 hours over four days, the jury found Potter guilty of first-degree manslaughter and second-degree manslaughter on December 23. Law enforcement in Brooklyn Center established a heavily fortified barrier area and periodically clashed with demonstrators over several days. Daunte Demetrius Wright was a 20-year-old living in Minneapolis, having recently moved there from Chicago. And so, the question is, how we, in an orderly way, make clear that they get down to a full-blown investigation to determine what the facts are, and what is likely to have happened? There is no true justice for the Wrights because Daunte is never coming home, co-counsel Jeff Storms said in the statement. We don't see these sort of things happening to white young people that we see happening over and over and over again to young, marginalized minorities. An attorney for the family of Daunte Wright said Thursday it would be "very difficult" for relatives to accept a claim by Minnesota police that the 20-year-old was shot and killed by . "[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. [141] The typical sentence for first-degree manslaughter in Minnesota is more than seven years in prison, with a maximum set at fifteen years. The details surrounding the case are still developing, but Daunte's parents have decided to speak out about their late son and how his death was unjustified in their eyes. [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. As police attempted to take him into custody, Daunte Wright reentered the vehicle and one of the officers fired their weapon, striking him. Daunte Wright's killing has sparked demonstrations -- some violent -- in Brooklyn Center, Minneapolis, Portland, New York and other cities. 2023 Cable News Network. Family and friends remembered Mr. Wright for his bright smile and outgoing demeanor, and as a dedicated father to a toddler, Daunte Jr., who was almost 2. [66], The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) launched an investigation into the killing of Wright on April 12, per standard procedure, and released Potter's name as the officer who shot Wright. And we stand with you," Harris said. Potter is required to serve two-thirds of her two-year sentence in prison, or 16 months, according to state law. 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." He was ason, he was a brother, he was anuncle, he was a father, he was a grandson, Katie Wright,told reporters at a Monday night vigil. Image via YouTube. 'Stench of racism' in Daunte Wright's death. [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. "[98], Minnesota Lt. 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 . And for that I'll never be able to forgive you," addressing Potter. Taser! [62][63][64] The Brooklyn Center City Council had recommended their firing during an emergency meeting on April 12. She told him to take them down and to let her speak with police over the phone if they ask for his car insurance so she could give them the information. Ryan Miller is a News NOW Reporter at USA TODAY, Daunte Wright: Mother speaks out at vigil, while protests continue. A preliminary report released Monday by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner said Daunte Wright died from a gunshot wound to the chest and that his death was a homicide. [71] Potter was represented by Earl Gray, a Saint Paul-based attorney who also defended Thomas Lane and Jeronimo Yanez, who were involved with the killings of George Floyd and Philando Castile, respectively. 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 . appreciated. Officers and medical personnel "attempted life-saving measures" on Daunte Wright but he died at the scene, Gannon said. [16][30][59] In order to avoid conflicts of interest, although the incident took place in Hennepin County, it was reviewed by the Washington County Attorney's Office per an agreement with metropolitan counties to handle officer-involved shootings. 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. [24] Potter's supervisor arrived on the scene, and the officers ran Wright's name through a police database. Crime. FILE- The family of Daunte Wright attend a rally and march organized by families who were victims of police brutality in in St. Paul, Minn.,Monday, May 24, 2021. She had no idea it would be the last time she would speak with her son. Relatives of at least six Black men killed by the police and a family member of Emmett Till, who had been lynched in Money, Mississippi, in 1955, were also present. "And we can't have these two Americas -- one where we treat Black Americans different from white Americans in policing.". Wright then allegedly drove away in the victim's Honda Civic, while his accomplice fled in another vehicle. 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. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, U.S. ", Former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama issued a statement Tuesday, saying they "empathize with the pain that Black mothers, fathers, and children are feeling after yet another senseless tragedy. ", "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. [10] He worked in retail and fast-food jobs to support his almost-two-year-old son, and had enrolled in a vocational school. "Daunte put the phone down, I heard some scuffling. He had sisters and brothers that he loved so much," Katie Wright said. At the news conference that also gathered George Floyd's family and other relativesof victims of police violence,Katie Wright spoke in soft tones as she recounted the last time she saw or spoke with her son, whom Garraway and family said was mentored at Thomas Edison High School in Minneapolis by Floyd's girlfriend, Courteney Ross. The Daunte Wright Sr. Memorial Fund seeks to raise funds to pay for the 20-year-old shooting victim's funeral and burial expenses, and for "mental health and grief counseling" for his family. She . A person lights candles at a vigil for Daunte Wright in Portland, Oregon, on April 12, 2021. [3][4][5] He was the son of a Black father and a White mother. A demonstrator holds up a portrait of Daunte Wright outside the Hennepin County Government Center during the sentencing hearing for former Brooklyn Center police officer Kim Potter on February 18 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. ", "And to his family and loved ones, you must know that the president and I grieve with you as the nation grieves his loss. Potter, a 26-year police veteran, was sentenced in to two years in prison in February after she was tried and convicted of first- and second-degree manslaughter. Potter was convicted of first-degree manslaughter and second-degree manslaughter on December 23, 2021, at a jury trial in Hennepin County. Also under the settlement, a permanent memorial for Wright will be built at the existing Daunte Wright Memorial, according to the legal team. [50][51] Officers administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), but Wright was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:18p.m.[52][49][53] Albrecht-Payton, the passenger in Wright's vehicle, was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, and no one in the other vehicle was injured. I never imagined this is what was going to happen. The parents of Daunte Wright, a 20-year-old Black man who was shot and killed by a white police officer in a Minneapolis suburb on Sunday, said they "can't accept" the notion that their son's killing was "a mistake. Daunte Wright's family has called for peaceful protests. [48], Attorneys gave closing arguments on December 20 and the jury, which was ordered to be sequestered, began deliberations by midday. On February 18, 2022, she was sentenced to sixteen months in prison, with credit for time served. "[33][34][35] The supervisor released his hands from attempting to restrain Wright. And who are the other key players? [21], On April 11, 2021, Wright was driving with his girlfriend in a white 2011 Buick LaCrosse that was registered to his brother. She said he told her that police had pulled him over due to air fresheners hanging in his rear view mirror. Wright also made many friends in his young life, mostly a younger crowd something that was made clear at the vigils and protests by the ages of those who attended, said Nekima Levy Armstrong, a former head of the NAACP in Minneapolis. Beyond that, they gave very clear details about their knowledge of what transpired since Katie was on the phone with him as it all occurred. "It's about giving the same respect and consideration to people of color that we give to white American citizens. Wright Family A traffic stop quickly turned deadly Sunday when a white Minnesota police officer fatally shot Daunte Wright, a 20-year-old Black . Wright, 20, was pulled over April 11, 2021, by former Brooklyn Center police officer Kim Potter for an expired tag and illegal air freshener, authorities have said. [16][32] She grabbed a piece of paper from the trainee with her right hand, then moved it to her left hand. "But it doesnt -- will not justify violence and/or looting. April 22, 2021 at 12:04 p.m. EDT. At the same time, we know that folks will keep dying if we don't fully address racial injustice and inequities in our country, from implicit bias to broken systems. Eric Ferkenhoff is the Midwest Criminal Justice Reporter for the USA TODAY Network. "I know my son was scared. I can't accept that.". A family photo shows a beaming Wright holding his son, Daunte Jr., at his first birthday party. [151] After discharging her gun, startled, she yelled, "Oh, shit, I shot him. "[12][56][57], On the morning of April 12, Brooklyn Center police chief Tim Gannon held a press conference and played a clip of the body camera footage. Discovery Company. Activists march towards the Multnomah County Sheriff's office during a protest against the killing of Daunte Wright on April 12, 2021 in Portland, Ore. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. A GoFundMe page for a memorial fund for Wright has so far raised over $560,000 as of Wednesday morning. "Daunte said, 'For what, am I in trouble?' I heard the phone getting put down pretty hard," Katie Wright said on "GMA" during Tuesday's exclusive interview. The lawsuit also required the city to make changes to policing policies and improve office training, and to establish a permanent memorial to Wright at the site of a temporary one that emerged in the aftermath of his death. A white police officer who fatally shot Daunte Wright during a traffic stop in a Minneapolis suburb resigned Tuesday, April 13, 2021 as did the city's police chief moves that the mayor said he hoped would help heal the community and lead to reconciliation after two nights of . Police said Monday that Wright had warrants out for his arrest and was stopped because he had expired plates. [65] According to The Independent, Potter fled her home for safety reasons after her address was leaked on social media. [46][47] Immediately after shooting Wright, she was still holding the piece of paper with her left hand. The shooting sparked protests in Brooklyn Center and renewed ongoing demonstrations against police shootings in the MinneapolisSaint Paul metropolitan area, leading to citywide and regional curfews. I just thought maybe he was being arrested.". According to a civil lawsuit filed Monday in Hennepin County, Chyna Whitaker says Wright's parents and attorney Ben . Demonstrations took place over several days, and spread to cities across the United States. [1][21] The supervisor had the passenger's side door open, and reached inside to grab the gear shift to prevent Wright from driving away. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? ABC News' Alexandra Faul, Sabina Ghebremedhin, Will Gretsky, Will McDuffie, Molly Nagle, Stephanie Ramos and Matt Stone contributed to this report. Potter resigned from the police department days after the shooting. 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. 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. Whitaker claims that of the approximately $1,039,260 raised through the fund and managed by Crump's firm, "not one . [123], Prosecutors filed the criminal case in Hennepin County District Court on April 14 as the State of Minnesota vs. Kimberly Potter. [21][154], The killing of Daunte Wright led to several changes in policing policies in Brooklyn Center and elsewhere. [72], Attorney General Ellison's office took over the prosecution on May 21. And I'm just so messed up about it because I feel like they stole my son's dad from him. dayslong protests erupted in Brooklyn Center. [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. When the people did not disperse, police fired tear gas, flashbangs, and rubber bullets. At the request of Potter's attorneys, Chu ruled on August 5 that cameras would not to be permitted in the courtroom. But just like in George Floyd -- they could have given him a ticket -- they used the most force when it comes to dealing with marginalized minorities," he added. . [155] In September 2021, Brooklyn Center officials announced a new policy to cite and release criminal offenders for misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor charges rather than take people into immediate custody. "She pointed the phone toward the driver's seat, and my son was laying there, unresponsive. [31][45][42] Potter was holding her gun for 5.5 seconds before discharging it. 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