Brooklyn Center Police Chief Tim Gannon described the Sunday incident of the fatal police shooting of Daunte Wright during a traffic stop as an “accidental discharge.”
Gannon would not name the officer but described her as “very senior.” He would not say whether she would be fired following the investigation.
“I think we can watch the video and ascertain whether she will be returning,” the chief said.
Authorities said the car was pulled over for having expired registration and after determining the driver had an outstanding warrant, police said they tried to arrest him. Then the driver reentered the vehicle, and an officer fired, striking him, police said. The vehicle traveled several blocks before striking another vehicle.
Court records show Wright was being sought after failing to appear in court on charges that he fled from officers and possessed a gun without a permit during an encounter with Minneapolis police in June. In that case, a statement of probable cause said police got a call about a man waving a gun who was later identified as Wright.”
Demonstrators gathered at the police department on Sunday where rocks and other objects were thrown at police officers and some were jumping on top of police cars. The crowd had largely dispersed by 1:15 a.m. while National Guard troops and law enforcement officers continued to guard the front of the police department on Monday morning.
“We will get to the bottom of this,” Mike Elliott, the mayor of Brooklyn Center, said at a news conference on Monday. “We will do all that is within our power to make sure that justice is done for Daunte Wright.”
Sources at ABC and New York Times
