Brooklyn Center Mayor Marks Anniversary Of Daunte Wright's Death

BROOKLYN CENTER, MN — On Monday, Brooklyn Center Mayor Mike Elliott marked the one-year anniversary of the killing of Daunte Wright by former police officer Kim Potter.

"Our community joins with Daunte Wright’s family in celebrating his life and legacy. Daunte was a son, a brother, a father, and a friend to many," Elliot said in a statement.

"Daunte Wright’s life mattered. Today is a reminder of the deadly consequences of inaction. That is why we must all commit ourselves to true transformative change."

Elliot said that he said committed "to building a transformative future in Brooklyn Center where our residents are able to thrive and build meaningful lives."

Potter, 49, was convicted in December of first- and second-degree manslaughter in the fatal shooting of Wright, 20, during a traffic stop on April 11, 2021. Potter was given a reduced sentence of two years in prison.

The family of Wright said they were "stunned" by the downward departure sentence.

Just before 2 p.m. April 11, 2021, Brooklyn Center police officer Anthony Luckey and his field training officer, Potter, pulled over a white Buick at 63rd Avenue North and Orchard Avenue North in Brooklyn Center, according to the criminal complaint.

Luckey checked Wright's identification and found that he had a warrant for a gross misdemeanor weapons charge. Luckey and Potter approached the driver's side of the car and asked Wright to get out and place his hands behind his back.

Wright did so, and Luckey told him he was being arrested for his outstanding warrant, according to authorities.

While outside the car, Wright pulled away from the officers and got back into the driver's seat of his car. Luckey struggled with Wright and tried to maintain physical control of him, investigators said.

At 2:01:49 p.m., Wright pulled away from the officers and got back into the driver's seat of his car, with Luckey trying to maintain physical control of Wright, according to the authorities.

At 2:01:55 p.m., Potter said she would tase Wright, before pulling out her Glock 9 mm handgun with her right hand, authorities said. She pointed it at Wright and again said she would tase him, according to investigators.

At 2:02 p.m., Potter said "Taser, Taser, Taser," and pulled the trigger on her handgun one second later, firing one round into Wright's left side, according to authorities.

Wright shouted, "Ah, he shot me," and the car sped away for a short distance before crashing into another car. An ambulance was called, and Wright died at the scene, according to investigators.

Wright died of a gunshot wound, and the Hennepin County medical examiner ruled his death to be a homicide.

After firing her gun, Potter said, "(Expletive), I just shot him!" according to the criminal complaint.

The handgun was holstered on the right side of Potter's duty belt, and her Taser was on the left side, according to authorities.

The Taser is yellow with a black grip and is set in "straight-draw position," meaning Potter would have to use her left hand to pull the Taser out of its holster, according to authorities.

Potter is the third Twin Cities metro police officer to be convicted of manslaughter or murder since 2019. Earlier in 2021, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was convicted of second and third-degree murder in the death of George Floyd.

In 2019, former Minneapolis police officer Mohamed Noor was convicted of third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the shooting death of Justine Damond. However, his murder conviction was recently overturned by the Minnesota Supreme Court.