Former US police officer shot dead by Daunte Wright Black Lives Matter News

In the face of the murder charges, former officer Kimberly Potter said the court’s traffic stop in Minnesota was “chaotic.”

Kimberly Potter, a former U.S. police officer who was shot dead by a black car driver Daunte Wright Earlier this year, he stated that the stoppage of dead traffic was “just chaotic” after the 20-year-old tried to get back into his car and leave.

Potter, face to face first- and second-degree murder charges in an April 11 shooting in Minneapolis, Minnesota, he said he saw a look of fear on the face of another officer before the shooting.

“I remember shouting ‘Taser, Taser, Taser’ and nothing happened, and then he told me I was shooting.” said Potter He was on the podium in Friday’s trial amid tears.

It was the first time Brooklyn Center Officer he has spoken publicly in detail about the shooting. He said he wanted to use his Taser instead of a gun to stop Wright from fleeing when officers tried to arrest him at a traffic stop as a result of a warrant for possession of a weapon.

The murder renewed attention police violence Against blacks in the US, provoking more protests and calls for reform.

The murder took place just a few miles away Derek ChauvinA former white Minneapolis police officer was on trial for murder George Floyd, a black man killed in an arrest in 2020 sparked racial justice protests across the country. Chauvin zen convicted of murder.

Potter’s lawyers have argued that he made a mistake, but that if he wanted to, he would have the right to use lethal force because he was in danger of being dragged by another officer. Wright’s car.

One of his attorneys, Earl Gray, began his testimony with Potter with basic questions about the roles his family and police had in his 26 years.

Potter stated that he chose to continue patrolling his entire career rather than looking for a desk job, “because he enjoyed working with the community.”

“I didn’t want to be in an administrative role,” he said at the booth.

Prosecutors dropped the case on Thursday after a week witness testimony It was largely aimed at implementing extensive training that Potter received, believing him to be guilty of Wright’s death.

“This case is about accused Kimberly Potter of betraying her badge and betraying her oath and betraying her position of public confidence,” said Minnesota Attorney General Erin Eldridge. he said in the opening statements of the December 7 trial.

“Their duty to their cap and community is to protect their lives, not to take their lives.”

Potter’s defense team began the trial on Thursday. Among those who testified that his boss was at the time of the deadly shooting was Tim Gannon, who called Potter a “fine officer” and said he saw “no policy violations” at the traffic stop.

Gannon he resigned two days after the shooting, basically saying he was forced out because he wouldn’t release Potter right away. Potter resigned the same day.

Gannon testified that the dashcam video showed Mychal Johnson, another police officer assisting in stopping traffic, “bending” in Wright’s car. He said his opinion was that the deadly force was reasonable.

Potter and another officer were taken to Wright because there was an air freshener hanging from his rearview mirror and the license plates were expired. They were then informed of a significant arrest warrant for him, accused of a firearm, and wanted to be arrested.

Potter can be heard shouting “Taser, Taser, Taser” on the camera he was carrying on his body and in his car video, before he fired at the car as Wright tried to free himself from a second officer and try to escape.

A third agent entered the passenger side of the vehicle to assist in the arrest.