Dollar Tree Looted, Vandalized in Viral Video as Unrest Mounts in Brooklyn Center

A Dollar Tree store has been looted, vandalized and set on fire as Brooklyn Center sees a second night of rioting in the wake of the shooting death of Daunte Wright.

The 20-year-old Black man was shot after a traffic stop on Sunday and pronounced dead at the scene. The shooting has since been described by Brooklyn Center Police Chief Tim Gannon as "an accidental discharge" and the officer involved was placed on administrative leave.

"Smoke is billowing out of the Dollar Tree. Bystanders are yelling 'Is there anybody in there? Get out of there.'," Minnesota Star Tribune reporter Liz Sawyer tweeted about 10:30 p.m. local time on Monday. "This is going to engulf in minutes."

Independent reporter Brendan Gutenschwager also tweeted from the scene, writing: "Dollar Tree has been looted and set on fire here in Brooklyn Center."

Video shared over social media showed smoke billowing from the popular discount store with shelves in disarray, goods ransacked and windows and walls covered in graffiti.

The National Guard has been activated and around 20 businesses were reportedly broken into in the Brooklyn Park area, John Harrington, Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, said at a press briefing on Monday.

"Several businesses around the Brooklyn Center Walmart are completely destroyed," Star Tribune reporter Liz Sawyer tweeted later on Monday. "Police rolled up and made some arrests as young men ran from buildings carrying stolen goods. Foot Locker, T Mobile, and a New York men's clothing store all completely destroyed."

A writer and editor for the Daily Wire, Harry Khachatrian, shared a video of a Nike store being looted. "Apparently police officers shot someone in Minneapolis, we don't know all the details yet, but people are already looting Nikes. Looks about right," Khachatrian tweeted. The video, which was first posted by user @zerosum24, has over 765,000 views since it was first shared.

A reporter for The Blaze, Elijah Schaffer, tweeted: "BREAKING: looting has begun in Minneapolis at a @littlecaesars. Looting also taking place at a foot locker and several other businesses. Because #blacklivesmatter," shared footage of the scene. The video, which was also first posted by @zerosum24, has had over 562,000 views since it was first posted.

A video journalist for the Star Tribune, Mark Vancleave, shared a video of the area near Footlocker and Walmart, tweeting: "Total chaos at Brooklyn Center Walmart and shopping mall." The video has had more than 158,000 views since it was first posted.

Several videos shared by Rebecca Brannon, a Minnesota-based photojournalist, captured looting at different stores including Footlocker, Family Dollar and Sally Beauty.

Brannon tweeted: "Large group of looters has now resumed back at O'Reilly's auto store. A female looters says, 'I need this! I need this!,'" sharing a video of the scene which has had over 14,000 views since it was first posted.

Sharing footage of a Brooklyn Center Holiday gas station being looted, Brannon tweeted: "After a police car left, looting resumed back inside the Holiday gas station. Someone else abandoned their car which was looted too. People continue to drive around erratically in the streets and go from location to location."

Scenes of rioting were also widely shared on social media. According to Commissioner Harrington, rocks and other objects were thrown at the Brooklyn Center Police Department. The front door of the Brooklyn Park Police Department, which is located next to Brooklyn Center, was struck by gunfire, according to police.

The Star Tribune's Sawyer shared several videos of clashes between the police and protesters. In a post of one video, she tweeted " 'Are we at war?!' A protester yells as flash bang grenades explode around us. 'Feels like we at war.'

Brooklyn Center Mayor Mike Elliott imposed a curfew on the Minnesota city until 6 a.m. on Monday, following the protests and unrest.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter announced a curfew starting from 7 p.m. Monday night until 6 a.m. Tuesday. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz also placed a 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew on the Anoka, Hennepin and Ramsey counties.