POLICE SHOOTING OF BLACK MOTORIST, Daunte Wright, 20, in the US City of Brooklyn Center, in Minneapolis suburb, is described by President Joe Biden as “tragic”. Wright’s death has sparked protests and a curfew has been declared. The Officer who shot Wright meant to use a Taser, but mistakenly drew her gun, according to Police Chief Tim Gannon.
President Biden, Monday, warned that it should not be justification for violent protests. He told reporters it was “really tragic thing that happened, but I think we have to wait and see what the investigation shows.”
He said he has been briefed on the incident and has seen the police body camera video showing an officer who shot Daunte Wright, after he tried to escape during a traffic stop. Brooklyn Center Police Chief, said the officer involved, mixed up her firearm with the taser she wanted to use.
Biden said full-blown investigation would determine whether it was an accident or international. “In the meantime, I want to make it clear again: there is absolutely no justification, none, for looting. Peaceful protests — understandable,” Biden added.
“The fact is that we do know that the anger, pain, and trauma that exists in the Black community, in that environment, is real. It’s serious and it’s consequential, but it does not justify violence or looting. We should listen to Dante’s mom, who is calling for peace and calm”, Biden seemed to appeal to protesters.
At a news conference, Monday morning, Chief Gannon played a short video from the body camera worn by a policewoman, which shows Wright trying to get back into his car as police officers attempted to handcuff him on the side of the road.
In the body camera video, an officer was heard saying “Taser, Taser, Taser”, said to be the normal police procedure before firing one of the stun guns. Wright was seen in the video trying to get into his car and drive away, while the same officer said “I just shot him”.
Protests erupted in Brooklyn Center, Sunday night as news of Wright’s death spread. Hundreds of protesters chanting his name gathered late outside the police headquarters. As tension rose, police who were donned with riot gear in two police vehicles were pelted with stones, according to Reuters news agency.
Members of the Minnesota National Guard, who were already deployed for the trial of Derek Chauvin’s murder charges, were sent to Brooklyn Center to put the situation under control. Some remained on the streets after the curfew ended, and the crowds dispersed.
