Potter faces charges of first and second-degree manslaughter in Wright’s death, which sparked protests last April in an area that was already on edge during the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Dereck Chauvin for murdering George Floyd.
Wright, a 20-year-old Black man, was pulled over by Potter and the officer she was training, Anthony Luckey, because his car had expired license plate tabs and an air freshener was hanging from the rearview mirror, according to a criminal complaint.
This undated booking photo released by the Hennepin County, Minn., Sheriff shows Kim Potter, a former Brooklyn Center, Minn., police officer. (Hennepin County Sheriff)
Luckey then found that Wright had an outstanding warrant for a weapons violation and attempted to arrest him. Wright initially obeyed orders to get out of the car, but tried to get back in as he was being handcuffed.
DAUNTE WRIGHT SHOOTING: EX-MINNESOTA COP KIM POTTER’S MANSLAUGHTER TRIAL RAISES SECURITY CONCERNS
Potter’s body camera shows her saying, “I’ll tase ya,” then pulling out her handgun and repeating again, “I’ll tase you.”
About Two seconds later, Potter said, “Taser taser taser,” and fired a single shot into Wright’s chest.
“S—! I just shot him. … I grabbed the wrong f—— gun,” Potter said. “I’m going to go to prison.”
Daunte Wright was shot and killed in April when a police officer mistook her handgun for a taser. (Facebook)
Potter’s defense will likely argue that it was a mistake, but prosecutors will argue that she committed first-degree manslaughter while recklessly handling a gun. The charge for second-degree manslaughter requires culpable negligence.
When jury selection begins Tuesday, attorneys will likely screen jurors for their opinions on the social justice protests that erupted in the wake of George Floyd’s death in May 2020.
