Family calls for more severe charges for former officer who fatally shot Daunte Wright

The family of Daunte Wright is demanding more severe charges against the former police officer who fatally shot the Black 20-year-old during a traffic stop in the Minneapolis suburb of Brooklyn Center. 

“Unfortunately, there’s never going to be justice for us,” Wright’s mother, Katie Wright, said during a press conference on Thursday. “The justice would bring our son home to us, knocking on the door with his big smile. Coming in the house, sitting down, eating dinner with us. Going out to lunch. Playing with his almost 2-year-old son, giving him a kiss as he walked out the door. So, justice isn’t even a word to me. I do want accountability.”

The family hosted a press conference with civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump after Kim Potter, a 48-year-old White woman, was arrested and charged with second-degree manslaughter. 

Wright’s family called for the “highest accountability.”

“But even then, when that happens — if that even happens — we’re still going to bury our son,” Katie Wright said. “We’re still never going to be able to see our baby boy.”

Daunte’s father, Aubrey Wright, said his son was “very much loved.”

“These young Black men being killed — can you blame my son or anyone else for being scared of the police?” he said.

Police have said that Potter pulled over Wright for having expired tags on Sunday. Officials said that Potter was attempting to arrest Wright on an outstanding warrant when he tried to get back into his car and that she meant to use her Taser and instead pulled her gun. 

“Taser!” she is heard on video saying before firing. She then says, “Holy [expletive], I shot him.”

Crump, who has represented several families in similar high-profile cases, said it is “very difficult” for Wright’s family to accept that his death was an accident, especially since Potter had been on the police force for 26 years. 

“And we still believe that it was over-policing,” Crump said. “It was an excessive use of force, because we have a propensity in America to over-police marginalized communities, especially Black men.”

Naisha Wright, Wright’s aunt, held up photos of the type of firearm and Taser that Potter had with her at the time of the fatal shooting.

“This is a Taser! This is a Taser!” she said. “But no, my nephew was killed by this, a Glock!”

Both the police chief, Thomas Gannon, and Potter resigned Tuesday. City manager Curt Boganey was fired.

Potter was arrested on Wednesday and a judge set her bail at $100,000, which she posted for her release. She made her initial court appearance the following day. If convicted, Potter faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $20,000.

The fatal shooting has sparked five nights of protests, which saw hundreds of demonstrators clashing with law enforcement who used gas grenades, rubber bullets and rows of riot police.