A Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, police shooting death of Daunte Wright during a traffic stop is igniting riots only 20 minutes away from where George Floyd died. The officers and responding paramedics attempted life-saving measures, but the driver was pronounced dead at the scene.
Daunte Wright was the father of a one-year-old boy.
The Daunte Wright police shooting comes as the country is struggling with the Derek Chauvin trial. Tensions are high.
Police Say Daunte Wright Had an Outstanding Warrant
Brooklyn Center police stopped a car for a traffic violation in the 6300 block of Orchard Avenue shortly before 2 p.m. Sunday, April 11, according to a news release issued by the Brooklyn Center Police Department.
Officers discovered the driver had a warrant, they attempted to arrest Daunte Wright.
“At one point as officers were attempting to take the driver into custody, the driver re-entered the vehicle. One officer discharged their firearm, striking the driver. The vehicle traveled several blocks before striking another vehicle. Officers in pursuit and responding medical personnel attempted life-saving measures, but the person died at the scene,” the press release said.
Wisconsin Right Now has learned a woman who was a passenger in the vehicle suffered non-life-threatening injuries during the crash and was taken to North Memorial Health Hospital.
The news release says its officers wear body cameras, and that the department believes both body cameras and squad cameras were activated at the time of the shooting.
Dante Wright: Air Freshener Hanging from the Rearview Mirror was Reason for the Stop
At the scene, A woman named Katie Wright identified herself as the mother of Dante Wright and stated he had called her when the police stopped him.
Daunte Wright was in a vehicle his family had given to him two weeks ago, and was driving with his girlfriend in the vehicle, she said.
“He called me at about 1:40, said he was getting pulled over by the police,” the woman told reporters at the scene, according to a Facebook Live video. “He said they pulled him over because he had air fresheners hanging from his rearview mirror.”
Dante Wright also told his mother the police had questions about the vehicle insurance, Katie Wright said.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is handling the investigation.
The Brooklyn Center police officer’s name has not been released.
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