Cop who fatally shot Daunte Wright in Brooklyn Center identified as Kim Potter
The police officer who fatally shot 20-year-old Daunte Wright in Brooklyn Center on April 11 has been identified as Kim Potter.
Potter is a 26-year veteran of the Brooklyn Center Police Department, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension announced Monday night.
"She is on standard administrative leave. Further personnel data are not public from the BCA under Minnesota law during an active investigation.," the BCA release said.
Potter fired the single, fatal shot that struck Wright in the chest during a traffic stop around 2 p.m. Sunday. Wright was pronounced dead at 2:17 p.m. near 63rd Ave. N. and Kathrene Dr. – a couple of blocks from where he was shot after being pulled over for expired license plate tabs.
Wright was not armed and no weapons were found in the car he was driving, according to police.
Brooklyn Center Police Chief Tim Gannon addressed the shooting during a Monday press conference, and he said he's of the belief that it was an "accidental discharge" after Potter mistakenly grabbed her gun instead of her Taser.
As well as being an experienced member of the police force, Potter was also a union president for the Brooklyn Center Police Officers Association, as well as being a member of the Law Enforcement Memorial Association.
In her role as a union member, she has represented other officers involved in shootings, including last summer when she accompanied one of the officers involved in the fatal shooting of Kobe Dimock-Heisler in August 2019 as he made a statement.
