Officer shot dead black man after ‘confusing her handgun for a Taser’

A protestor faces police lines in Brooklyn Center after Daunte Wright (20) was shot and killed. Photo: Getty

Police form a line against protestors in Minnesota after Daunte Wright (20) was shot and killed. Photo: Stephen Maturen

A protestor faces police lines in Brooklyn Center after Daunte Wright (20) was shot and killed. Photo: Getty

Police form a line against protestors in Minnesota after Daunte Wright (20) was shot and killed. Photo: Stephen Maturen

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A protestor faces police lines in Brooklyn Center after Daunte Wright (20) was shot and killed. Photo: Getty

Josie Ensor

April 13 2021 02:30 AM

An officer who killed a black man in a traffic stop “confused her handgun for a Taser”, Minnesota police claimed yesterday as they sought to quell unrest after the shooting, which occurred just kilometres from the site of George Floyd’s killing.

The army was drafted in and a curfew ordered following violent protests over the shooting of 20-year-old Daunte Wright by police during a traffic stop in Brooklyn Center, north-west of Minneapolis.

“We recognise this couldn’t have happened at a worse time, when all of America, when all of the world is watching our community,” said Mike Elliott, mayor of Brooklyn Center. “Our hearts are aching right now.”

Mr Wright, a father of one, was pulled over by police just after 2pm local time on Sunday because an air freshener was blocking the rear-view mirror of his car.

Officers attempted to detain Mr Wright after determining that he had an outstanding arrest warrant for “gross misdemeanour”, but he managed to free himself from handcuffs and got back in his vehicle before he was shot.

Police chief Tim Gannon showed a video of the moment at a heated press conference and claimed it was an “accidental discharge” and that the officer involved mistakenly reached for her gun rather than her Taser.

“I think I shot him,” the female officer, who has been put on administrative leave, can be heard saying with some surprise.

The killing, in broad daylight, sparked unrest in a city where tensions are already running high. Protesters have spent recent days rallying in Minneapolis as the trial of Derek Chauvin for the murder of Mr Floyd enters its third week.

On Sunday night, the protests spilled over into violence, as police cars were smashed and rocks were thrown at officers, who responded by firing tear gas and rubber bullets. Hundreds of protesters broke into about 20 businesses at a shopping centre, jumped on police cars and hurled rocks and other objects at police in Brooklyn Center. Officers in riot gear fired gas and flash-bang grenades.

Mr Elliott called the shooting “tragic”, but pleaded for protesters to be peaceful. “We will get to the bottom of this. We will do all that is in our power to ensure that justice is done for Daunte Wright.” (© Telegraph Media Group Ltd 2021)