Ex-officer Kimberly Potter Remained Stoic After Being Found Guilty On 2 Counts Of Manslaughter

Potter claimed she thought she was using her taser when she fatally shot the new father.

On April 11, 2021, during a traffic stop in Minneapolis Minnesota, Police officer Kimberly Potter fatally shot Daunte Wright, a 20-year-old new father that had just relocated from Chicago. Wright had a warrant out for his arrest at the time of the traffic stop.

According to the officer, a struggle ensued to remove Wright from his vehicle, resulting in ex-police Potter discharging her firearm. Wright was struck one time in the chest and drove off. Shortly after his car collided with a concrete barrier and put an end to the chase. Although officers indicated they tried to perform CPR, Wright was pronounced dead at the scene of the manslaughter.

A day after the shooting, Potter implied it was an accident as her intent was to discharge her taser and not her firearm. Potter’s shooting was another black eye for the State of Minnesota in the way members of the Black community are treated by some members of the police force. The Potter shooting ultimately lead to her resignation and that of the Chief of Police.

On April 14, Potter was arrested and charged with second-degree manslaughter, followed by another charge for first-degree manslaughter that followed in September of the same year. Potter remained free on a $100,000 bail up until the time of the verdict.

Yesterday, Potter was found guilty on both counts of manslaughter and faces a fine of up to $50,000 and 25 years in prison. A request was made by Potter’s lawyer to have her remain under house arrest until she is sentenced in the beginning of the new year, but that request was denied.