Another Black Man Dies from Police Shooting in the US... "Mistaken for Taser"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] Another Black person has died from a police shooting in Minnesota, where the death of George Floyd last year sparked anti-racism protests across the United States. The police explained that they mistook their handgun for a Taser, fueling public outrage even further.

On the 12th (local time), according to CNN and The Washington Post, Tim Gannon, chief of the Brooklyn Center Police Department (BCPD) in Minnesota, said at a press conference that the accidental shooting led to the tragic death of 20-year-old Black man Daunte Wright.

Wright was stopped by police around 2 p.m. the previous day near Brooklyn Center while driving. After being pulled over for a traffic stop, he disobeyed orders and got back into his car. During this process, he was shot by police, drove a few blocks while fleeing, collided with another vehicle, and died at the scene.

The police stopped Wright because his car had an expired registration sticker. Upon running a background check, they discovered an outstanding arrest warrant issued in his name. When they attempted to arrest him, Wright fled into his car, prompting the police to open fire.

At the press conference, Chief Gannon released body camera footage from the officers involved. The video shows two officers approaching Wright’s car while a female officer follows behind, repeatedly shouting "Taser, Taser" as she threatens to shoot. Shortly after, the female officer says, "Damn it, I shot him."

Brooklyn Center, where the incident occurred, is a small city with a population of about 30,000 located approximately 12 km northwest of Minneapolis, where the George Floyd incident took place. Amid ongoing trials of the officers charged with excessive force in Floyd’s death, another police shooting has sparked protests involving around 100 people the previous day. The protesters clashed with heavily armed police, and some looted nearby stores. Police used flashbangs and tear gas to disperse the crowd.

As public unrest continued, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz issued a curfew from the night of the 12th through the morning of the 13th for three counties including Hennepin County, where Brooklyn Center is located. The mayors of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, the neighboring major cities collectively known as the "Twin Cities," also imposed nighttime curfews.

President Joe Biden called Wright’s death "truly tragic" and said, "But we need to wait and see what the investigation shows." Regarding the protests that escalated into looting, he stated, "There is no justification for violence" and urged for "peace and calm." Biden said he had spoken with governors, mayors, and officials but had not yet been able to contact Wright’s family, promising to keep them in his prayers.