The response to Daunte Wright’s death is only compounding the injustice

A supporting officer intervenes, shooting him twice while yelling, “Taser! Taser.” Reportedly, the officer meant to tase Wright and mistakenly used her firearm. She is heard on the video saying, “Oh s— … I just shot him!” He died on the scene.

The horrifying and unnecessary death comes in the context of the trial of the Minneapolis police officer accused of killing George Floyd in a region already rife with racial tension. It’s a tragedy, and the officer’s mistake is unacceptable and inexcusable. Policing is an incredibly difficult job, but this officer’s training and judgment were obviously inadequate — to deadly consequence.

Wright’s death has prompted a national outcry, and it’s easy to understand why. However, just as we saw in the aftermath of Floyd’s death, much of the Minneapolis protest has spiraled into destructive violence and looting.

“Looters targeted the Brooklyn Center Walmart and nearby shopping mall,” the Star Tribune reports. “Several businesses around the Walmart were completely destroyed, including Foot Locker, T Mobile, and a New York men’s clothing store. Looting was widespread late Sunday into early Monday, spilling into north and south Minneapolis. Reports said that stores in Uptown and along Lake Street were also being looted.”

Scenes from the riots are chilling:

This is not “mostly peaceful protest.” It is criminal activity that only creates more victims.

When riots break out, more people, including store owners, police officers, and rioters themselves, often end up getting killed or injured in the chaos. The financial damage ruins random individuals who have done nothing wrong — and no, “insurance” doesn’t make looting harmless. Not even close. Many don’t have it, coverage often isn’t sufficient, and future insurance costs skyrocket regardless.

Additionally, the economic scars of rioting haunt the affected community over the long run through reduced business investment, lower property values, and countless other consequences. The riots after Floyd’s death already inflicted a record-breaking $2 billion-plus in damage on local communities, especially the Minneapolis area, and every additional building or shop targeted now after this tragedy only adds to the long list of victims.

But surely economic and social costs are worth it if it means furthering justice and accomplishing reform, right? Even if one was willing to make that sort of Faustian bargain, there’s just one problem: Rioting does the opposite. Studies consistently show that violent forms of protest harm the underlying cause in the public’s mind much more than they further it.

There are serious, long-overdue reforms that would reduce police brutality and curb these unnecessary, tragic killings. For example, repealing the liability shield that largely protects police officers who violate citizens’ rights would hold officials who betray the public trust accountable. And limiting reckless police practices such as “no-knock” search warrants can prevent dangerous situations in which innocent citizens are killed in the crossfire.

None of these potentially life-saving reforms are advanced by throwing a brick or stealing a pair of Nike shoes. The criminal response to Wright’s tragic death is only compounding the injustice.

Brad Polumbo (@Brad_Polumbo) is a Washington Examiner contributor and host of the Breaking Boundaries podcast.