Ex-Brooklyn Center Cop Makes Court Appearance for Daunte Wright Killing
The former Brooklyn Center police officer who’s facing a 2nd-degree manslaughter charge for the killing of Daunte Wright made her first appearance in court via Zoom Thursday, April 15, with her next appearance set for May 17.
Kimberly Potter, 48, was taken into custody by agents with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and booked into the Hennepin County Jail on Wednesday. She posted $100,000 bond around six hours later and was released.
At her first appearance on the charge on Thursday, which lasted about five minutes, Potter’s attorney Earl Gray waived the reading of the criminal complaint and confirmed with the judge that Potter was aware of the charge against her.
Gray is also representing former Minneapolis officer Thomas Lane, who is charged with aiding/abetting 2nd-degree murder and aiding/abetting 2nd-degree manslaughter in the death of George Floyd last May.
The 2nd-degree manslaughter charge against Potter carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and/or a $20,000 fine.
PREVIOUSLY: Man, 20, Fatally Shot by Brooklyn Center Police
Wright, 20, was pulled over for driving a vehicle with expired tabs on Sunday afternoon, police said. Body camera video released the next day by police shows Potter drawing her service weapon instead of her Taser and shooting Wright once in the chest. She exclaims in the video, “Sh*t, I just shot him!” before Wright continues driving. He crashed into another vehicle before dying at the scene at 2:18 p.m. near 63rd Ave. N. & Kathrene Dr.
RELATED: Video Shows Officer Mistakes Gun for Taser, Fatally Shoots Man
Potter offered her resignation to Brooklyn Center Mayor Mike Elliot before she was taken into custody, and Police Chief Tim Gannon resigned his position earlier this week.
Daunte Wright
Potter’s Champlin, Minn., home has been barricaded with concrete dividers and fencing since shortly after the fatal shooting, and she and her family have reportedly moved out of the house.
RELATED: Officer, Police Chief Resign
Wright’s killing set off a fresh round of unrest in Brooklyn Center and some isolated areas in the Twin Cities in the days that followed. A crowd of several hundred have clashed with law enforcement outside the Brooklyn Center Police Department since Sunday night, with a heavy presence of National Guard troops clearing the area each night and arresting dozens who refused dispersal orders.
Family said Thursday that Wright’s funeral will be held in north Minneapolis on Thursday, April 22, with Rev. Al Sharpton delivering the eulogy.
