Update (April 14, 2021): Kim Potter, the officer who officials say shot and killed Daunte Wright in a Minnesota suburb has been charged with second-degree manslaughter.
In the state of Minnesota, someone is charged with second-degree manslaughter when officials believe a suspect has caused the victim's death by "culpable negligence whereby the person creates an unreasonable risk, and consciously takes chances of causing death or great bodily harm to another," CNN reported.
Potter, who was a 26-year veteran in the force, could face up to 10 years in prison for the single charge and/or a fine of up to $20,000.
Just touched down in MN.
Phrase of the day “Due Process”.
Bonus* “Probable Cause”.
It’s Wednesday. Kim Potter shot #DaunteWright to death Sunday. Due process demands where there’s ‘probable cause’ of crime an arrest warrant is issued.
ARREST KIM POTTER TODAY! pic.twitter.com/LVJO4UPkhS
— S. Lee Merritt, Esq. (@MeritLaw) April 14, 2021
On Tuesday, Washington County Attorney Pete Orput said his office would be moving quickly to file charges and complete an investigation of the shooting. The case was handed over to Washington County prosecutors to avoid conflict of interest in Hennepin County where the shooting took place.
Wright was pulled over for a traffic violation in Brooklyn Center on Sunday when he was gunned down by the former officer who the police chief said meant to pull out her Taser instead of her handgun.
Minnesota remains a state of concern for police brutality after the 2016 shooting of Philado Castile in Falcon Heights and George Floyd who was killed in 2020 in Minneapolis.
The killing of Wright took place just about 10 miles from the location of the Derek Chauvin trial who was indicted for killing Floyd, NBC News reported.
Original (April 13, 2021): The officer who shot and killed 20-year-old Daunte Wright in a Minnesota suburb on Sunday has resigned. Brooklyn Center Police Chief Tim Gannon who said in a press conference Monday that the shooting was accidental, also announced his resignation.
On Tuesday, Kim Potter, a 26 year veteran of the Brooklyn Police department announced her resignation in a letter to Brooklyn Center Mayor Mike Elliot and Gannon, according to ABC News. Subsequently, Gannon also announced his own resignation from the department.
Ofc. Kim Potter killed Daunte Wright — but did she know the difference between a handgun and a taser? The facts:
‼️ 26 years as a police officer — She was 6 YEARS into her career when Daunte was BORN!
‼️ Serves as police union president
‼️ Defended questionable actions before… pic.twitter.com/M9eMU7Tyjw— Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) April 13, 2021
“I have loved every minute of being a police officer and serving this community to the best of my ability, but I believe it is in the best interest of the community, the department, and my fellow officers if I resign immediately,” her letter reads.
Potter was previously suspended from the force while awaiting investigation results from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
The Washington Post reported that the 48-year-old officer has been involved in one fatal police shooting in the past, where a mentally ill man was shot six times.
On Monday, the Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office reported Wright died of a gunshot wound to the chest and ruled his death a homicide, according to ABC 5.
“Let me be very clear. My position is that we cannot afford to make mistakes that lead to the loss of life of other people in our profession," Elliot said at a news conference. “So I do fully support releasing the officer of her duties.”
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is currently investigating the incident, however, Mayor Elliot requested on Twitter that the case be reassigned to Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison.
To ensure transparency and to continue building trust in our community, I’m asking the Governor @GovTimWalz to reassign Daunte’s case to the office of the attorney general @AGEllison.
— Mayor Mike Elliott (@mayor_elliott) April 13, 2021
“To ensure transparency and to continue building trust in our community, I’m asking the Governor @GovTimWalz to reassign Daunte’s case to the office of the attorney general @AGEllison,” he wrote in a tweet.
Washington County Attorney Pete Orput said a "thorough yet expedited" review of criminal charges is expected to be complete by Wednesday, the Star Tribune reported. He added that he also wishes to speak with the family to explain his decision and offer his condolences.