Ex-Officer Sentenced to Two Years for the Fatal Shooting of Daunte Wright

On February 18, 2022, former Minneapolis police officer Kim Potter was convicted of manslaughter for fatally shooting Daunte Wright during a traffic stop last April.

In late December, a Hennepin County jury found Potter guilty of first- and second-degree manslaughter for murdering a 20-year-old unarmed Black man in the Minneapolis suburb of Brooklyn Center. The White former officer claimed that she intended to grab her taser, which was holstered at the opposite side of her body, when she fired at Wright. During the court hearing, Hennepin County Judge Regina M. Chu stated that the case was “highly unusual” and “one of the saddest cases” she has had in her “20 years on the bench.” 

Under Minnesota guidelines, Potter is sentenced for the most serious conviction of first-degree manslaughter, which typically ranges from over six years to eight-and-a-half years. However, individuals charged with felony sentences in the state are eligible for release after serving two-thirds of their required sentence. Thus, the ex-officer could be freed in sixteen months and receive credit for 58 days already served in custody. 

During the trial, Judge Chu remarked that Potter “made a tragic mistake … and ended up killing a young man,” but her offense ultimately lacked the circumstances to justify a longer sentence. The magistrate added that “Officer Kimberly Potter was trying to do the right thing” and “never intended to hurt anyone.” Despite working with the Brooklyn Center Police Department for twenty six years, the officer held that she mistook her gun for a taser. 

In the courtroom, the Wright family pleaded for Judge Chu to hand Potter the highest sentence. Though after the decision was heard, the distressed family said they felt “betrayed” by the justice system. Katie Wright, Daunte’s mother, said in a statement: “Kim Potter murdered my son. He died April 11th. Today, the justice system murdered him all over again.” Wright also addressed her son’s murderer in court and said: “I will never be able to forgive you for what you’ve stolen from us. A police officer who’s supposed to serve and protect took so much from us.”

Following the tragic death of George Floyd, Wright’s murder drew an instant national outcry and call to correct the justice system. Videos of the fatal shooting emerged in the media and led to several protests in Brooklyn Center, which were then met with aggressive responses from law enforcement. The week that ensued from Wright’s death led to Potter’s and the police chief’s resignation and a restructure of city leadership.

Though after the court hearing on Friday, the public has had ambivalent opinions regarding Potter’s sentence. Some have argued for a lighter sentence of probation, while others have fought to ensure the ex-officer cannot receive portions of her police pension. Jonathan McClellan, an attorney who leads the Minnesota Justice Coalition, said in a statement: “Even if she goes to prison, she’s going to be there, not paying rent, and she’s going to be receiving money - getting a pension that goes right into her pocket.”

Mr. McClellan’s advocacy group has supported a bill introduced in the state congress that would cease the taxpayer-funded portion of pensions for police officers convicted of felonies.