Who Shot Daunte

Wright

On April 11th, 2021, Daunte Wright, a twenty-year-old Black man from Minnesota, was tragically shot and killed by a police officer in the neighboring city of Brooklyn Center.

The incident took place at about 2 p.m. local time when police officers attempted to execute a traffic stop on the vehicle Wright was driving due to the fact that he had a warrant out for his arrest. After officers discovered the warrant, they attempted to detain him. As they attempted to place him in their police vehicles, Wright attempted to re-enter his car and a struggle ensued. During the struggle, one of the officers shouted “taser” and another officer, identified by authorities as Kimberly Potter, instead drew her gun and shot Wright. The fatal shot killed Wright and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The circumstances of this incident have prompted a mix of mourning and outrage among many in the Twin Cities community and across the nation, as it is yet another example of a police officer violently killing an unarmed Black man. Potter has since been placed on administrative leave while an investigation is conducted by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to determine if criminal charges should be filed in connection with the incident. In the meantime, the city of Brooklyn Center has passed a resolution declaring a state of emergency and instituting a night-time curfew for the city.

The shooting of Daunte Wright is especially poignant given that it occurred in the same city and just 10 miles away from where George Floyd died at the hands of Minneapolis police officers nearly a year prior. It is a reminder of the fragility of Black life and of the many battles that the Black community has yet to win in the fight against systemic racism and inequality. It is also a call to action for all to stand in solidarity and continue the struggle for a more equitable and just society.