The family of Daunte Wright will receive $3.25 million for his 2021 murder at the hands of former police officer Kim Potter.
Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, has agreed to pay the loved ones of the slain 20-year-old. The young father, who was biracial, was murdered by Potter, a white officer, during a traffic stop on April 11th, 2021. Police stopped Wright for having expired tags and an air freshener hanging in his rear-view mirror. After discovering he had an outstanding warrant, officers tried taking Wright into custody. He got back into his car, where a brief struggle ensued. Potter was captured on body cam footage yelling “Taser” multiple times before firing her handgun. She claimed she got her weapons mixed up.
In February of this year, Potter was sentenced to two years in prison after being convicted of manslaughter.
As part of the settlement, changes to law enforcement have been adopted in the city. Such new practices include training police officers in weapons confusion, proper de-escalation, and responding appropriately to mental health situations. Attorneys for the family are also pushing for a permanent memorial honoring Wright.
“We hope Black families, people of color, and all residents feel safer now in Brooklyn Center because of the changes the city must make to resolve our claims,” Wright’s parents, Katie and Arbuey Wright, said in a joint statement.
The settlement is expected to be finalized in the upcoming days.
