Trial For Ex-Brooklyn Center Cop Kim Potter Set For December

MINNEAPOLIS — The trial against former Brooklyn Center police officer Kim Potter is set for Dec. 6. Potter, 48, is charged with second-degree manslaughter in the fatal shooting of Daunte Wright in April.

The charge was filed by Washington County Attorney Pete Orput. Potter's case is being handled by the Washington County Attorney's Office after the case was handed over from Hennepin County in order to avoid any conflict of interest.

If convicted, Potter faces up to 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.

The fatal shooting happened during the trial against former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin in the death of George Floyd. Wright's death ignited several days of protest and unrest in Brooklyn Center.

• Kim Potter: Five Things About The Officer Who Shot Daunte Wright

"Certain occupations carry an immense responsibility and none more so than a sworn police officer," said Imran Ali, assistant criminal division chief in Washington County.

"With that responsibility comes a great deal of discretion and accountability. We will vigorously prosecute this case and intend to prove that Officer Potter abrogated her responsibility to protect the public when she used her firearm rather than her taser. Her action caused the unlawful killing of Mr. Wright and she must be held accountable. County Attorney Peter Orput and I met with the family, expressed our deepest sympathies and assured them we would spare no resources in seeking justice for Mr. Wright."

Background on the case

Just before 2 p.m. on April 11, Brooklyn Center police officer Anthony Luckey and his field training officer, Potter, pulled over a white Buick at 63rd Avenue North and Orchard Avenue North in Brooklyn Center, according to a news release from Orput's office.

Luckey checked Wright's identification and found that he had a warrant for a gross misdemeanor weapons charge. Luckey and Potter approached the driver's side of the car and asked Wright to get out and place his hands behind his back.

Wright did so, and Luckey told him he was being arrested for his outstanding warrant, according to authorities.

While outside the car, Wright pulled away from the officers and got back into the driver's seat of his car. Luckey struggled with Wright and tried to maintain physical control of him, investigators said.

At 2:01:49 p.m., Wright pulled away from the officers and got back into the driver's seat of his car, with Officer Luckey trying to maintain physical control of Wright, according to the authorities.

At 2:01:55 p.m., Potter said she would tase Wright before pulling out her Glock 9mm handgun with her right hand, authorities said. She pointed it at Wright and again said she would tase him, according to investigators.

At 2:02 p.m., Potter said "Taser, Taser, Taser," and pulled the trigger on her handgun at 2:02:01, firing one round into the left side of Wright, according to authorities.

Wright shouted "ah, he shot me," and the car sped away for a short distance before crashing into another car. An ambulance was called and Wright died at the scene, according to investigators.

Wright died of a gunshot wound and the death was ruled a homicide by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner.

After firing her gun, Potter said "expletive, I just shot him!" according to authorities.

The handgun was holstered on the right side of Potter's duty belt and her Taser was on the left side, according to authorities.

The Taser is yellow with a black grip and is set in "straight-draw position," meaning Potter would have to use her left hand to pull the Taser out of its holster, according to authorities.

Potter's resignation

Potter, who had been with the Brooklyn Center Police Department for 26 years, resigned two days after Wright's death.

"I am tendering my resignation from the Brooklyn Center Police Department effective immediately," Potter wrote.

"I have loved every minute of being a police officer and serving this community to the best of my ability, but I believe it is in the best interest of the community, the department, and my fellow officers if I resign immediately."

Asked why Potter was allowed to resign instead of being fired, Brooklyn Center Mayor Mike Elliot said "We were going through our own processes to make sure that internally we had all of the documentation in order to be able to do that."

Tony Gruenig, who has been with the department for 19 years, was appointed to replace Gannon as police chief.