Daunte Wright shooting was ‘accidental,’ officer meant to use Taser, police chief says

JUDGE IN CHAUVIN CASE REJECTS JURY SEQUESTRATION AFTER DAUNTE WRIGHT SHOOTING

Body camera footage of Wright’s slaying was released on Tuesday. In the video, a struggle can be seen emerging between Wright and officers, who attempt to arrest him. As Wright tries to flee in his car, the officer can be seen yelling, “Taser! Taser!” before ultimately shooting him with her handgun.

“Holy s—. I shot him,” the officer can be heard saying before the video ends.

The officer responsible for the incident has been placed on administrative leave. The state has promised an investigation.

“We’re going to do everything we can to ensure that justice is done and our communities are made whole,” Brooklyn Center Mayor Mike Elliott said.

Wright’s death spread quickly on social media, sparking protests and unrest in Brooklyn Center. Police deployed rubber bullets and tear gas in response.

“There’s nothing I can say to lessen the pain that Mr. Wright’s family, friends, for that feeling of loss that they must have,” the chief said. “That pain is shared by the community and also all those involved in the incident.”

Gannon would not name the officer but said she was “very senior in the department.” He did not directly answer a question about whether she would be fired.

“I think we can watch the video and ascertain whether she will be returning,” he said.

On Sunday, Wright’s mother, Katie Wright, urged calm from her community.

“All the violence, if it keeps going, it’s only going to be about the violence. We need it to be about why my son got shot for no reason,” she said to a crowd near the location of her son’s death. “We need to make sure it’s about him and not about smashing police cars because that’s not going to bring my son back.”

Wright’s mother said her son called her when he was being pulled over, saying it was because of an air freshener.

Brooklyn Center officials say Wright was stopped because of an expired registration. A background check during the traffic stop showed two outstanding warrants, including one for illegal ownership of a firearm.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

The Washington Examiner verified these charges, including Wright’s warrant for arrest after he missed a court date.

Authorities in Brooklyn Center are bracing for more violence in the city following the release of the bodycam footage. On Monday afternoon, the Minnesota Twins announced they would be postponing their game against the Boston Red Sox “out of respect for the tragic events that occurred yesterday.”

Wright’s death comes in the middle of the murder trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who is accused of killing George Floyd last May. The judge presiding over the case denied a motion from the defense Monday to sequester the jury in light of the Wright incident.

“The problem is, is that the emotional response that that case creates sets the stage for a jury to say, ‘I’m not going to vote not guilty because I’m concerned about the outcome.’ During voir dire, we had many, many jurors on both sides of the political or social debate who expressed concern about if they don’t agree, if the public doesn’t agree with the verdict,” Chauvin’s defense attorney Eric Nelson said. “This incident last night highlights, and I think brings it to the forefront of the jury’s mindset, that a verdict, in this case, is going to have consequences.”

Judge Peter Cahill said there was no indication that jurors were prejudiced by Wright’s death and ordered the court to proceed as normal.