Police Chief & Officer Who Shot Daunte Wright Succumb to 48 Hours of Riots, Resign

In the wake of the deadly shooting of Daunte Wright, Police Chief Tim Gannon and Officer Kim Potter both resigned from their positions in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. 

Gannon made the decision Monday to release the body-camera footage that captured the encounter.

In the video, a female officer can be heard yelling “taser, taser, taser” before a single shot was fired. The police chief said at a news conference Monday that he believes the officer meant to grab her taser, but reached for her gun instead. 

He categorized the incident as an “accidental discharge,” sparking insurmountable backlash. 

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, which advised Gannon not to release the footage so soon after the incident, identified Potter as the officer involved in the shooting, Fox News reports. 

While Potter has reportedly been on administrative leave since the incident, she announced her resignation in a letter. 

“I am tendering my resignation from the Brooklyn Center Police Department effective immediately. I have loved every minute of being a police officer and serving this community to the best of my ability, but I believe it is in the best interest of the community, the department, and my fellow officers if I resign immediately,” the 26-year veteran wrote. 

The resignations come after mounting pressure from two consecutive nights of violent rioting and looting throughout the city. Minnesota State Patrol, Minneapolis Police and Hennepin County Sheriff’s Deputies made 32 arrests Monday night for unlawful assembly. 

By Tuesday afternoon, just over 2,000 Minnesota National Guardsmen were on duty to assist local law enforcement “in maintaining peace, with more service members coming on duty over the next few days,” Fox News reports.