In a Minneapolis suburb, a 20-year-old unarmed Black man is dead after being pulled over by police for a traffic violation.  Daunte Wright was reportedly shot by an officer. When word hit the street of the incident, violent protests soon followed.

It happened in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota,  just miles from where George Floyd was killed. In a statement, police wrote:

Brooklyn Center Police Department officers initiated a stop for a traffic violation in the area of 6300 block of Orchard Ave. in Brooklyn Center shortly before 2 p.m. Sunday.

Officers determined the driver of the vehicle had an outstanding warrant. At one point as officers were attempting to take the driver into custody, the driver re-entered the vehicle.

One officer discharged their firearm, striking the driver. The vehicle traveled several blocks before striking another vehicle. 

Police released body cam video today of the incident that shows the officer shooting into the car.

The chief of police said the officer thought he was reaching for his taser, but “the officer drew their handgun instead of their taser.” 

“This appears to me, from what I viewed, and the officer’s reaction in distress immediately after, that this was an accidental discharge, that resulted in a tragic death of Mr. Wright. I have asked the BCA to conduct an independent investigation into the shooting and death, once they are completed I expect they will submit their findings independent of me to the appropriate authorities… the officer is currently on administrative leave. 

Before police released the video, civil rights attorney Ben Crump wrote, “The police have unjustifiably made themselves judge, jury, & executioner. When will this stop?!”

Paige Fernandez, policing policy advocate in the ACLU’s Justice Division released the following statement:

“Daunte Wright should be alive today. Taking a step back to listen to the circumstances surrounding Daunte Wright’s killing hammers home the heartbreaking truth that we’ve known for so long — Black people living in America are subject to having their lives violently ripped away from them and the ones they love at the hands of our government for absolutely nothing. Daunte Wright now joins a long list of Black people whose lives were snatched from them as they attempted to simply live — Breonna Taylor as she slept in her home, George Floyd outside a convenience store, Eric Garner outside of a neighborhood bodega, Botham Jean as he ate ice cream on his living room couch, Tamir Rice as he played in the park.”

Late Monday, police identified the officer as Kim Potter, a 26 year department veteran.

Monday, for a second night protests erupted outside the Brooklyn Center police station. The National Guard has now been mobilized. A curfew was underway as well.