Daunte Wright's Family Reaches Settlement
The family of Daunte Wright, have reached a settlement with the city of Brooklyn Center, Minn., over the police shooting in which the 20-year-old was killed last April. Former officer Kim Potter is serving a two-year sentence for manslaughter for shooting Wright with her service revolver which she claimed to mistake for her taser.
CBS News reports the settlement to the family is $3.25 million and includes a commitment by Brooklyn Center to facilitate "changes in its policies and training related to traffic stops for equipment violations that do not interfere with the safety of the driver, passenger or members of the community."
Additionally, according to lawyers, the settlement will "not be finalized" without "meaningful non-monetary relief,” which includes mental health training for city officers and a permanent memorial for Daunte Wright.
According to family attorney, Antonio M. Romanucci, Wright’s family members said in a statement that they “hope and believe the measures of change to policing, policies and training will create important improvements to the community in Daunte’s name. Nothing can bring him back, but the family hopes his legacy is a positive one and prevents any other family from enduring the type of grief they will live with for the rest of their lives.”
On April 11, 2021, Wright was driving his car along a road in Brooklyn Center, Minn., when he was pulled over by police for having expired tags. Realizing Wright had warrants out for his arrest, officers attempted to handcuff him. Body camera video showed that when Wright tried to get back into his car, officer Kim Potter shouted “taser, taser.” Instead of using the taser, she pulled her service revolver out and shot the young man. He reentered his car and drove away, but crashed into another car not far from the scene and was pronounced dead.
Potter, a 26-year veteran, resigned from the Brooklyn Center police force as did police chief Tim Gannon. She was arrested within days. Potter claimed that she mistook her gun for her service weapon and never intended to shoot Wright.
She was convicted Dec. 23, 2021, on the manslaughter charges and given a two-year sentence. Potter will spend 16 months behind bars and the remaining time of her sentence on probation.
