Kim Potter guilty of manslaughter in death of Daunte Wright
Former Brooklyn Center police officer Kim Potter has been found guilty of first-degree and second-degree manslaughter in the fatal shooting of Daunte Wright.
Potter had pleaded not guilty.
The maximum sentence for first-degree manslaughter is 15 years and a $30,000 fine, and for second-degree manslaughter, it's 10 years and a $20,000 fine. Potter's sentencing has been scheduled for February 18.
She will be taken into custody immediately without bail.
In a statement, the Wright family's legal team said the family is "relieved." They called for reform and change in America's policing systems.
“From the unnecessary and overreaching tragic traffic stop to the shooting that took his life, that day will remain a traumatic one for this family and yet another example for America of why we desperately need change in policing, training and protocols," the statement read. "If we are ever going to restore the confidence of Black and marginalized Americans in law enforcement, we need to have accountability and a commitment to listening and to creating meaningful change."
As the guilty verdict was read by Judge Regina Chu, a crowd of protestors erupted in celebration outside of the courtroom.
Wright's mother, Katie Wright, described the moment she heard the verdict in a press conference following the conviction.
"Every single emotion that you could imagine just running through your body at that moment. I kind of let out a yelp because it was built up in the anticipation of what was to come while we were waiting to the last few days," Katie Wright said, thanking prosecutors and the community for their support.
The Wright family was joined by Attorney General Keith Ellison and the prosecution at a press conference to honor Wright's life.
"We have a degree of accountability for Daunte's death. Accountability is not justice," Ellison said Thursday. "Justice is restoration. Justice would be restoring Daunte to life and making the Wright family whole again. Justice is beyond the reach that we have in this life for Daunte."
Ellison spoke to law enforcement officials about what he says is their responsibility as public safety enforcers.
"We hold you in high regard and we also hold you to high standards," Ellison added. "We want you to uphold the highest ideals of our society and ideals of safety. And when a member of your profession is held accountable, it does not diminish you. In fact, it shows the whole world that those of you who enforce the law are also willing to live by it."
Potter, alongside other Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, officers, pulled Wright over for expired registration tabs and an air freshener on the rearview mirror. When officers discovered he had an outstanding warrant for a gross misdemeanor weapons charge, they tried to arrest him, according to police testimony at the trial.
He resisted and attempted to re-enter his vehicle when Potter shot him. He then drove away, crashing shortly after, police testified.
Potter's defense team has maintained that Wright's death was an accident throughout the trial. They said Potter mistakenly grabbed her gun instead of her stun gun, but that she was within her rights to use deadly force because Wright may have hurt another officer.
Prosecutors said the 26-year veteran and training officer should not have reached for her stun gun in the first place. They assert that she was reckless and negligent in her actions.
Potter testified in her own defense, sobbing on the witness stand as she recalled the events of the April 11 shooting.
"I'm sorry," Potter said. "I didn't want to hurt anybody."
