MN - Daunte Wright, 20, fatally shot by police during traffic stop, Brooklyn Center, 11 April 2021

[SuziQ]

Chief Tim Gannon of Brooklyn Center Police Department in MN says he believes the officer meant to pull out his taser when he shot Daunte Wright. "This appears to me, from what I viewed & the officer's reaction in distress immediately after, that this was an accidental discharge."

That's one helluva mistake.

 

[sds71]

@Gia_Vang
·
Chief Tim Gannon is emotional. He said "I'm the leader of this department. They expect me to lead. Create a safe city. That's what I'm trying to do. That's it."

Chief said officers will be lined up to protect this building and this city as best we can tonight

Q: Why was Daunte's body left in the street for hours? Chief said it was because the due respect for Daunte was given on his order to maintain it so this investigation could be thorough and they aren't accused of tampering with evidence.

"Would I do thinks differently last night? Absolutely not," says the Brooklyn Center Police Chief. Under tough questioning, he says pointedly he will protect "peaceful protesters" tonight

@BrendanKeefe
It was clearly a Glock carried in the officer's dominant-hand holster. You can see the Taser in the other officer's 'weak' side holster. Police have released the video showing the officer saying 'Taser! Taser! Taser!' and then dropping the gun after firing a real bullet.
https://twitter.com/brendankeefe/status/1381664990025945092/photo/1

 

[oceanblueeyes]

If she did accidently pull her firearm thinking it was her taser they need to watch her closely by putting her own suicide watch.

She would know immediately how people would adversely react.

This year 42 LE have already committed suicide.

Jmho

 

[oceanblueeyes]

I also don’t understand how she couldn’t know she had her gun vs a taser but admittedly I have never held either one.

I've held both, but her firearm should have been on one side, and the taser on the other side of her belt.

At least that's the way LE carries them in my area including our grandson who is a police officer.

Jmho

 

[missy1974]

When the female officer said, "I just shot him" it sounds like another officer said, "oh well".

That can't be what I heard. Did I hear that right?

Or did the other officer say, "oh wow"????

I just watched this... I heard "oh wow"

 

[Herat]

I heard "oh, wow"

( removed a comment that I should not have posted)

 

[sds71]

Daunte Wright had a warrant for missing a court appearance. That’s it. It was the first appearance for the case, which was charged by summons. IE, by mail. He might not have even known about the court date. It was a remote hearing.



https://twitter.com/MnInjustice/status/1381664585518698496/photo/1

 

[Tippy Lynn]

Thanks for clarifying it was "Oh WOW".

My head is spinning.

 

[MadMcGoo]

From the body cam footage it really seemed like she thought she was deploying her taser. But how?

 

[oceanblueeyes]

I just watched this... I heard "oh wow"

That's exactly what I heard too!

It sounded like they were very shocked.

Jmho

 

[tlcya]

Court records show Wright was being sought for fleeing from law enforcement officers and for possessing a gun without a permit during an encounter with Minneapolis police in June. In that case, a statement of probable cause said police got a call about a man waving a gun who was later identified as Wright.

Daunte Wright death in Minnesota traffic stop sparks unrest

same article, additional info:

BROOKLYN CENTER, Minn. -- The police chief in a Minneapolis suburb where a Black man was fatally shot during a traffic stop said Monday that he believes the officer who fired intended to use a Taser, not a handgun.

Brooklyn Center Police Chief Tim Gannon described the shooting as “an accidental discharge.” The state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension was investigating.

{SNIP]

Gannon said at a news conference that the officer made a mistake, and he released body camera footage from the officer who fired. The footage showed three officers around a stopped car. When another officer attempts to handcuff Wright, a struggle ensues. The officer is heard shouting “Taser!” several times before firing her weapon.

---------
My Own Opinion based on this info, subject to change as evidence additional info becomes available: While the officers on-scene likely were aware of the reason for Daunte's warrant, it sounds from the article as if the officer who shot him was intending to attempt to taser him to prevent Daunte from leaving and complete taking him into custody. That officer apparently pulled the wrong weapon from her belt. This is entirely on the PD. Accident or no. It didn't have to and shouldn't have happened. Again, just MOO as of now. I have questions, how does a trained officer mistakenly pull their firearm rather than their taser? Wouldn't those be kept in two separate places on their person? Was the officer new/green, was officer nervous because of social atmosphere around the Chauvin trial? I am really interested in seeing the body cam footage.

Ms. Wright, with her statements to press immediately after the shooting, about him being pulled over because he had air fresheners, was the flame that the powder keg needed to create the violence from those who choose to show up at protests simply to create chaos, destruction, loot and burn.

 

[oceanblueeyes]

Ot:

Now Fox is reporting on three police officers being shot in Georgia today.

So much blood shed now all across our nation.

Jmho

 

[tlcya]

When the female officer said, "I just shot him" it sounds like another officer said, "oh well".

That can't be what I heard. Did I hear that right?

Or did the other officer say, "oh wow"????

Just watched the footage. I heard oh wow.

 

[Jax49]

From the body cam footage it really seemed like she thought she was deploying her taser. But how?

The sixty four thousand dollar question. How the **** could she not tell the difference?

 

[MrsWatson]

Oh this is bad.

 

[tara83]

I just can't see someone making a mistake like this.Something very,very wrong here.

 

[Baciagalupo]

Aren't they worn on opposite sides?
Just senseless.

 

[Jax49]

A different case from 2016. Officer was sentenced to two years.

How easy is it to confuse a gun for a Taser? - CNN

 

[tlcya]

hearing the shock (oh sh*t) in her voice as the realization hit after she discharged her weapon. Talk about the worst possible time for this to occur socially. I don't understand how this happened but I do believe the officer was sincere in her shock and dismay on realizing what she had just done.

I echo Mrs. Watson. This is so so bad. Now of all times, when things are so tenuous in the city already with a huge trial in progress against another officer.

 

[Inthedetails]

where did everybody go? Thread sure got quiet

As for me, I was at the grocery store....life does go on.

jmo

edited to add: I didn't mean that comment to sound callous - just that we can't all be on the board constantly and that is not a reflection of our interest.