Officer Kim Potter and Chief Tim Gannon submitted resignations Tuesday.
Police officer Kim Potter resigned from her position Tuesday after shooting and killing Daunte Wright, a 20-year-old Black man, at a traffic stop Sunday, officials in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, announced.
Brooklyn Center Police Chief Tim Gannon also filed his resignation Tuesday, Brooklyn Center Mayor Mike Elliott announced at a media conference.
In a letter to city officials, Potter wrote,”I have loved every minute of being a police officer and serving this community to the best of my skill, but I feel it’s in the best interest of the community, the section, and my fellow officers if I resign immediately.”
The mayor said,”We didn’t ask her to resign, that was a choice she left.”
Wright, dad to some 2-year-old boy, was driving in Brooklyn Center, about 10 miles northwest of Minneapolis, when he had been halted by police Sunday afternoon. The officers originally pulled over for an expired registration label on his car but decided during the traffic stop that he had an outstanding gross misdemeanor warrant, Gannon said.
As authorities tried to take him into custody, Wright got back to the car and Potter fired her gun, striking him. Gannon said Potter supposed to set up her Taser rather than her rifle when she”accidentally” taken Wright.
In body camera movie, which premiered at a Monday press conference, Gannon said Potter might be heard warning Wright she was likely to deploy her Taser.
“But, the officer drew their handgun rather than the Taser,” Gannon told reporters Monday. “It’s my view that the officer had the aim to deploy their Taser, but instead shot Mr. Wright with one bullet. This appears to me, from what I viewed along with the officer’s response and distress immediately after, that this was an unintentional release that resulted in the tragic passing of Mr. Wright.”
Potter can be observed in the video yelling,”Holy s–, I just shot him!”
The mayor tweeted Tuesday he’s asking the Senate to reassign the case to the Minnesota attorney general’s office to”ensure transparency”
Commander Tony Gruenig was named acting police chief. He’s been using the Brooklyn Center Police Department for 19 years, according to the mayor.
Potter’s attorney, Earl Gray, had no further comment Tuesday.
