Ex-Police Officer Being Charged With 2nd Degree Manslaughter In Wright Shooting
Michael Cantrell
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Former Brooklyn Center, Minnesota police officer Kim Potter is going to be facing charges of second-degree manslaughter for the shooting death of 20-year-old Daunte Wright, according to Washington County Attorney Pete Orput.
Potter will be charged just 3 days after Wright was killed during a traffic stop. The charge could potentially see Potter put behind bars for a maximum of 10 years.
The Associated Press asked for a comment from an attorney who is representing Potter, but as of this writing there has been no response.
The former police chief has said Potter, a 26-year veteran and training officer, had intended to use her Taser on Wright but fired her handgun instead. However, protesters and Wright’s family members say there is no excuse for the shooting and it shows how the justice system is tilted against Blacks, noting Wright was stopped for expired car registration and ended up dead.
Potter, 48, resigned from the Brooklyn Center Police Department on Tuesday as did Police Chief Tim Gannon.
Gannon had released Potter’s body camera video the day after Sunday’s shooting. It showed her approaching Wright as he stood outside of his car as another officer was arresting him for an outstanding warrant. The warrant was for his failure to appear in court on charges he fled from officers and possessed a gun without a permit during an encounter with Minneapolis police in June. Police said he was pulled over for having expired registration tags.
This whole situation is just terrible. It’s terrible for Wright and his family for obvious reasons, but also for Potter and hers as well. If this is indeed an accident, which is what all of the evidence thus far points to, what a tragic turn of events.
Look at how many lives were ruined due to an accident. This is why it is critical that police officers be trained how to remain cool and collected in a stressful situation. And this is training that needs to happen often.
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