Ex-Cop to Face Manslaughter Charge for Killing Daunte Wright
A former Minneapolis suburb cop is set to be charged with second-degree manslaughter over the fatal shooting of 20-year-old Daunte Wright. The prosecutor announced Wednesday the charge against ex-Brooklyn Center officer Kim Potter will be filed the same day, just three days after the deadly traffic stop.
Officer Claims She Meant to Use Taser, Not Gun
Potter, a 26-year veteran and training officer, told investigators she meant to deploy her Taser but mistakenly fired her handgun instead. However, Minnesota law does not require intent for a second-degree manslaughter conviction.
The charge carries up to 10 years behind bars and applies when ‘culpable negligence’ causes someone’s death—or when someone consciously takes risks that lead to a fatality.
Protests Rage On After Wright’s Death
Brooklyn Center has seen three consecutive nights of protests following Wright’s death. The 20-year-old Black motorist was shot by Potter, a white officer, sparking outrage and clashes between demonstrators and police.
Both Potter and Brooklyn Center Police Chief Tim Gannon resigned on April 13 amid the chaos. Potter was arrested at the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension in St. Paul early Wednesday morning, while her lawyer stayed silent on the developments.
“I think it’ll be evident when you read the complaint,” said the prosecutor on the charging decision.
