Former police officer Kim Potter has been released from prison after serving 16 months for the fatal shooting of Daunte Wright in April 2021 (CNN, USA Today, NBC News). Potter was convicted of manslaughter and had been serving a two-year sentence (ABC News, CBS News, KSTP). The shooting occurred during Derek Chauvin’s trial for the murder of George Floyd, causing heightened tension in Minneapolis (CBS News).
Potter, a former Brooklyn Center police officer, had stopped Wright for a minor traffic violation before the incident occurred (ABC News). According to reports, Potter mistook her gun for a Taser and fatally shot Wright (NBC News). The incident sparked protests and unrest in Minneapolis, leading to curfews and the deployment of the National Guard (CNN).
Potter’s release has caused controversy and has been met with criticism (ABC7 New York). Some feel that the sentence was too light for the crime committed, while others believe that Potter’s actions were accidental and not deserving of a longer sentence (Fox 9, People).
As of now, it is unclear what Potter’s plans are post-release or how the community will respond to her return (KARE 11). However, the incident with Daunte Wright and the subsequent trial and sentencing of Kim Potter has sparked conversations about policing and racial disparities in the justice system (ABC News).
