MINNEAPOLIS – Fresh protests broke out last night in Minneapolis despite a curfew implemented after a police officer fatally shot a young black man when she apparently confused her handgun with her taser, fueling tensions in a US city already on edge because of the George Floyd murder trial.
Shortly before 9pm local time (0200GMT), nearly two hours after the curfew went into effect, dozens of protesters continued to wave signs and chant slogans in front of the police station in Brooklyn Centre, where Sunday’s killing occurred.
Police fired tear gas at the protesters several times and ordered them to disperse.
This was the second consecutive night of protests after 20-year-old Daunte Wright was shot dead by police while driving with his girlfriend.
At the quiet suburban intersection in Minneapolis where Wright was shot dead, mourners expressed despair over the latest police killing of a black person to shake the United States.
In police body camera video released earlier yesterday in Brooklyn Centre, an officer indicates preparing to use a taser, but then fired a gun at the victim.
“The officer drew their handgun instead of their taser,” said Brooklyn Centre police chief Tim Gannon.
Gannon said it was his belief that the officer, now on leave pending an investigation, “had the intention to deploy their taser but instead shot Mr Wright with a single bullet.”
“This was an accidental discharge that resulted in the tragic death of Mr Wright,” Gannon said.
Minnesota’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension identified the officer late yesterday as Kim Potter, a 26-year veteran of the police force.
President Joe Biden called the killing “tragic,” but warned against any potential violent unrest.
“I think we have to wait and see what the investigation shows,” Biden said.
“In the meantime, I want to make it clear again: there is absolutely no justification, none, for looting,” he added. “Peaceful protests – understandable.”
The protests overnight prompted the defence attorney for former officer Derek Chauvin, who is facing murder and manslaughter charges for George Floyd’s death, to ask the judge presiding over the high-profile case to sequester the jury.
Judge Peter Cahill refused, stating “this is a totally different case.”
Meanwhile, sporting fixtures in Minnesota were called off as tensions in the city simmered. Basketball, baseball and ice hockey games were all postponed following the murder. – AFP, April 13, 2021
