Minnesota Officer Shot and Killed Man by Mistake, Chief said

Minnesota police announced at a news conference that the officer who fatally shot a black man on Sunday mistakenly fired a gun, thinking it was a taser.

“There was accidental discharge that resulted in the tragic death of Mr. Wright,” Brooklyn Center Chief of Police Tim Gannon said. “I have asked the BCA [Bureau of Criminal Apprehension] to conduct an independent investigation into the shooting and death.”

Body camera footage released during the conference shows two police officers approaching Wright’s vehicle from both sides before Wright exits the car. One officer attempted to handcuff Wright before he, according to Gannon, reentered the vehicle to try and leave. A short struggle ensued, when the officer wearing the camera yelled, “I’ll tase you, I’ll tase you! Taser, taser, taser,” before holding out a gun and shooting Wright. The officer can be heard saying, “Shit, I just shot him,” following the occurrence.

As Brooklyn Center Mayor Mike Elliott walked to the conference podium on Monday afternoon, he continuously swept his eyes across the room before reporting known facts on the situation. Elliott was visibly and audibly distraught in the beginning of the conference, with his eyes downcast at the podium.

“I want to say that our hearts are aching right now,” Elliott said. “We are in pain right now. And we recognize that this couldn’t have happened at a worse time. We recognize that this is happening at a time when our community, when all of America, indeed all of the world, is watching our community.”

Twenty-year-old Daunte Wright was shot and killed at a traffic stop in a Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, neighborhood around 2 p.m., sparking protests and riots in the city. According to Gannon, Wright was initially pulled over because he had expired registration on his license plate. Police said that Wright stepped out of the vehicle and attempted to re-enter, where he was then shot before driving away. The car travelled a few blocks before hitting another vehicle, according to Elliott.

A video posted by reporter Chris Hrapsky interviewed Katie Wright, Daunte’s mother, who described the intervention with police, which she heard via phone call. According to Wright, one officer told Daunte to hang up the phone before the first call was ended.

“Like a minute later I called and his girlfriend answered, which was the passenger in the car, and said that he’d been shot,” Wright said. “She put it on the driver’s side and my son was laying there, lifeless.”

Wright said the officers made Daunte’s girlfriend hang up the phone a second time. She then had to call 911 to find out where her son was located.

Gannon released the body camera footage of the shooting against the wishes of the state department, saying the BCA normally does not condone showing body camera videos so early in an investigation.

“I felt the community needed to know what happened,” Gannon said. “They needed to see it. I needed to be transparent. And I want to be forthright, due respect to Daunte as well.”

The police force in Brooklyn Center was run by City Manager Kurt Boganey. According to Boganey, officers in Brooklyn Center are expected to serve the community impartial to race and skin color.

“The city council has been very clear on its expectations about fairness and equity,” Boganey said. “We are implementing this year an Office of Anti-racism Principles and Practices, and we are hiring an equity officer in the next several weeks.”

Boganey said the city council also keeps information regarding stops of black, indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) and officer discipline. Policies are also looked over to ensure there is no disproportionate terms or conditions.

Following the press conference, Elliott announced on Twitter that Boganey has been removed from his city duties.  

“I will continue to work my hardest to ensure good leadership at all levels of our city government,” Elliott said.­

Many rumors sparked on social media following the shooting that the female officer who killed Wright had committed suicide. According to Gannon, the officer is alive and currently placed on administrative leave. No further information regarding the officer’s name or age has been put out at this time.

Elliott spoke in favor of firing the officer from the police force.

“My position is that we cannot afford to make mistakes that lead to the loss of life in our profession,” Elliott said. “So, I do fully support releasing the officer of her duties. I do.”

Elliot said he has not personally spoken to officers involved with the shooting, and the BCA is the only investigative team currently allowed to talk to officers on the scene.

An official statement was released by the BCA identifying the officer who shot her firearm as Officer Kim Potter, who has been with the Brooklyn Center Police Department for 26 years.

The BCA has stated that the investigation on the fatal shooting is ongoing at this time.