Tragedy occurred on April 11 in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota when a 20-year-old African-American man, Daunte Wright, was killed by veteran Police Officer Kimberly Potter. Potter claims that the fatal shooting was an accident and that she only meant to use her taser, but many people are skeptical considering her 26 years of experience. 

The police said they initially pulled Wright over because of an expired registration tag on his car, but when they tried to take him into custody for an outstanding gross misdemeanor warrant, he attempted to flee in his car. It was then, according to the Washington County Attorney’s Office, that Potter announced she was going to use her taser on Wright. 

In a statement on April 14 prosecutors said, “She pulled her Glock 9mm handgun with her right hand and pointed it at Wright, saying again that she would tase him.” According to them, “Potter said ‘Taser, Taser, Taser,’ and pulled the trigger on her handgun.” 

After firing one round she said “Holy s—, I just shot him!” according to prosecutors. 

Potter resigned two days after the shooting, and in a statement, she said, “I believe it is in the best interest of the community, the department and my fellow officers if I resign immediately.”

Many people find this turn of events much more controversial than just a fatal mix-up, and they believe that this is a civil rights issue. People feel that a police officer of 26 years would be able to differentiate between a yellow taser on her left side and a black handgun on her right. In the statement the prosecutors said, “the Taser is set in a straight-draw position, meaning Potter would have to use her left hand to pull the Taser out of its holster.” 

Brooklyn Center Police Chief Tim Gannon stated that he believed Potter meant to fire her Taser gun at Wright, but since releasing this statement, he has resigned.

“I can’t assume anything about the officer’s true intentions, but [Wright] definitely didn’t deserve to die,” said WHS Senior Dylan Kronick. 

This controversial shooting comes nearly a year after the killing of 46-year-old George Floyd, another African-American man. Wright was killed just over 10 miles from Floyd and his death occurred during the trial of Derek Chauvin, the officer responsible for Floyd’s death. Although Chauvin was found guilty on all charges against him, with the existing tension from the Chauvin trial, it is no surprise that the shooting of Wright only sparked more outrage. 

There have been constant civil rights protests across the country, and although they have been mostly peaceful, local authorities said that on April 16 nearly 100 people were arrested in Brooklyn Center, M.N. for violence.

According to authorities Potter was arrested and charged with second-degree manslaughter for her role in Wright’s death, but it will be a long time before the investigation determines her fate.