Minnesota attorney general’s office to prosecute officer charged in Daunte Wright’s death

The office of Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is set to prosecute the case of the former Minneapolis-area officer charged in connection to Daunte Wright‘s death.

Kim Potter, who was removed from her role as a Brooklyn Center policewoman, was charged with manslaughter on April 14 after she allegedly mistook her gun for a Taser and shot Wright, 20, following a warrant traffic stop on April 11.

Assistant Attorney General Matthew Frank, who was present in the case of former Minneapolis officer Derek Chauvin, will supervise the state’s effort to convict Potter, while Ellison, who led the trial, will assist the process. Chauvin was found guilty on April 20 of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter in the case of George Floyd’s May 25, 2020, death.

PROSECUTORS SEEKS ADDITIONAL CHARGE FOR THREE FORMER OFFICERS JAILED AFTER GEORGE FLOYD’S DEATH

“Daunte Wright was a son, a brother, a father, a friend. When he died, he was only 20 years old. He had his whole life ahead of him,” Ellison said in a statement. “Daunte Wright’s death was a tragedy. He should not have died on the day that he did. He should not have died the way that he did.”

“Prosecutors are ministers of justice,” he continued. “This means we must and will follow justice wherever it leads. I promise the Wright family and all Minnesotans that I will handle this prosecution responsibly and consistent with the law, and that I will be guided by the values of accountability and transparency. No one, however, should expect this case will be easy to prosecute. History shows that this case, like all cases of officer-involved deaths by deadly force, will be difficult.”

Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz applauded the attorney general’s move to provide the Wright family with the “strongest legal team possible” to seek “justice.”

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

“I am glad that Attorney General Ellison is taking the case,” he said. “The First Lady and I were grateful to host the Wright family at the Residence this week and have an opportunity to honor the memory of their son Daunte. We heard their desire to have the strongest legal team possible to bring their family justice. No verdict will bring Daunte back to his family, but I have full faith that Attorney General Ellison will build the best team possible to pursue accountability for what happened that tragic day.”

Wright’s death sparked widespread protests and riots throughout the Minneapolis area in conjunction with the trial of Chauvin. Dozens were arrested in the days after April 11 as law enforcement and National Guard members scrambled to bring order to the city ahead of the verdict.

Related Content