Man shot dead by police during incident in Brooklyn Center

Brooklyn Center Police Department has confirmed a man was fatally shot by an officer following a traffic stop Sunday afternoon.

The department has confirmed the man was fatally wounded after being shot shortly after officers had initiated a traffic stop on the 6300 block of Orchard Avenue.

A woman speaking at the scene has said that her 20-year-old son, named Daunte Wright, was the man killed.

Police have issued a statement you can read below, but it does not state what traffic violation the victim was pulled over for, and what was the nature of his outstanding warrant.

Wright's mother claimed he was being pulled over because he had air fresheners hanging from his rearview mirror. That has also not been confirmed. 

A crowd has gathered at the scene asking the police for answers, leading to tense scenes that has thus far seen a squad car damaged and rubber bullets fired by police.

Sign up: Subscribe to our BREAKING NEWS newsletters

What police say happened

Note: The details provided in this statement are based on the police’s latest version of events, and has not yet been corroborated by witness statements or bodycam footage.

"Brooklyn Center Police Department officers initiated a stop for a traffic violation in the area of the 6300 block of Orchard Ave. in Brooklyn Center shortly before 2 p.m. Sunday.

Officers determined that the driver of the vehicle had an outstanding warrant. At one point as officers were attempting to take the driver into custody, the driver re-entered the vehicle.

One officer discharged their firearm, striking the driver. The vehicle traveled several blocks before striking another vehicle.

Officers in pursuit and responding medical personnel attempted life saving measures, but the person died at the scene. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office will release the person’s name following a preliminary autopsy and family notification.

A female passenger in the vehicle sustained non-life threatening injuries during the crash. She was transported to North Memorial Health Hospital in Robbinsdale.

Occupants of the vehicle that was struck during the crash were uninjured.

Brooklyn Center officers wear body-worn cameras. We believe both body-worn cameras and dash cameras were activated during this incident."