Mobs Riot, Loot in Minneapolis After Fatal Police Shooting – Raising Tension for Chauvin Trial

Just as the Trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin enters its third week, the city descends into chaos again following a deadly police shooting of a 20 year-old man who was killed following a traffic stop and before allegedly attempting to flee apprehension for an outstanding arrest warrant. 

An angry mob converges on Brooklyn Center police precinct in Minneapolis area (Image Source: Twitter)

Star Tribune in Minneapolis reports…

A Brooklyn Center police officer fatally shot a man during a traffic stop Sunday afternoon, inflaming already raw tensions between police and community members in the midst of the Derek Chauvin trial.

Relatives of Daunte Wright, 20, who is Black, told a tense crowd gathered at the scene in the northern Minneapolis suburb Sunday afternoon that Wright drove for a short distance after he was shot, crashed his car, and died at the scene.

“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.” – BCPD news release

— Chris Hrapsky (@ChrisHrapsky) April 12, 2021

Brooklyn Center chief Tim Gannon: “As I watch the video & listen to the officer’s commands, it is my belief that the officer had the intention to deploy their taser but instead shot [Daunte] Wright with a single bullet. This appears to me… that this was an accidental discharge” pic.twitter.com/4hlDyVmLG2

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 12, 2021

Protesters later walked to the Brooklyn Center police headquarters near N. 67th Avenue and N. Humboldt Avenue and were locked in a standoff with police in riot gear late Sunday night. Officers repeatedly ordered the crowd of about 500 to disperse as protesters chanted Wright’s name and climbed atop the police headquarters sign, by then covered in graffiti. Police used tear gas, flash bangs and rubber bullets on the crowd.

Police have pushed large swath of crowd back across the street, into residential area with tear gas, flash bangs and rubber bullets. This came moments after a few people threw things at police line and organizers yelled at them to stop. pic.twitter.com/w0bK4Or9iN

— Liz Sawyer (@ByLizSawyer) April 12, 2021

National Guard troops arrived just before midnight as looters targeted the Brooklyn Center Walmart and nearby shopping mall. Several businesses around the Walmart were completely destroyed, including Foot Locker, T Mobile, and a New York men’s clothing store.

Looting was widespread late Sunday into early Monday, spilling into north and south Minneapolis. Reports said that stores in Uptown and along Lake Street were also being looted.

Several businesses around the Brooklyn Center Walmart are completely destroyed. Police rolled up and made some arrests as young men ran from buildings carrying stolen goods. Foot Locker, T Mobile, and a New York men’s clothing store all completely destroyed. pic.twitter.com/d9i9BfB6Yz

— Liz Sawyer (@ByLizSawyer) April 12, 2021

Brooklyn Center Mayor Mike Elliott issued a curfew order until 6 a.m. Monday. Precautions were being taken into Monday, with Brooklyn Center canceling or closing all school buildings, programs and activities…

Continue this story at Star Tribune

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