The Minnesota National Guard arrived in a Minneapolis suburb on Sunday after the fatal shooting of a 20-year-old black man sparked riots and looting in the city.
Brooklyn Center Police released a statement on Sunday explaining that a police officer shot Daunte Wright, who had an outstanding warrant for possessing a firearm without a permit last June, after he evaded arrest during a traffic stop and drove away. Reports suggest that the vehicle, which also held a female passenger believed to be Wright’s girlfriend, “traveled several blocks before crashing into another vehicle.”
Wright’s mother disputed these reports after she said Wright called her as he was pulled over but abruptly hung up after someone said “Daunte, don’t run.”
“All he did was have air fresheners in the car, and they told him to get out of the car,” Katie Wright said.
Shortly after the incident, agitated crowds carrying Black Lives Matter flags and signs gathered at the scene to protest the shooting by attacking police cars, scuffling with officers in riot gear, and throwing various objects at police while threatening to keep the rioting going “all summer like it did last time.” Other rioters covered the Brooklyn Center police department building with graffiti and Wright’s name prompting law enforcement to deploy “tear gas, flash bangs and rubber bullets on the crowd.”
More images from the Brooklyn Center Minnesota police department. pic.twitter.com/8v55l3Fks6
— Carlos Gonzalez (@CarlosGphoto) April 12, 2021
Police are deploying tear gas, stun grenades and less lethal rounds outside the precinct. Protesters are holding the street. @MPRnews pic.twitter.com/ajUPOGHrY9
— Evan Frost (@efrostee) April 12, 2021
#BLM protesters began rioting near Minneapolis in response to the police-involved shooting of a suspected gang member. https://t.co/Pr7VNPPfoq
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) April 12, 2021
Brooklyn Center, Minn.: BLM rioter who was about to throw a large chunk of concrete at police was hit with an impact munition. He falls to the ground in pain. #Minneapolis https://t.co/Yj0ZkS3rkF
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) April 12, 2021
“Y’all didn’t learn from George Floyd”– Tear gas and rubber bullets after police fatally shoot 20-year-old Daunte Wright in the Minneapolis suburb of Brooklyn Center. Full video: https://t.co/071uPk9ky6 pic.twitter.com/BfhM18zDAM
— Mark Vancleave (@MDVancleave) April 12, 2021
Brooklyn Center Mayor Mike Elliott issued a curfew until 6 a.m. on Monday after crowds began to form but his calls for peaceful community gatherings “amid our calls for transparency and accountability” were met with destruction.
https://twitter.com/mayor_elliott/status/1381517972636803072
Wright’s mother also urged rioters to abstain from violence, but to no avail.
“All the violence, if it keeps going it’s only going to be about the violence. We need it to be about why my son got shot for no reason,” she said to a crowd near the shooting scene. “We need to make sure it’s about him and not about smashing police cars, because that’s not going to bring my son back.”
Hundreds of people looted and rampaged more than 20 businesses amidst the violent unrest including a Foot Locker, Walmart, O’Reilly Auto Parts, and Family Dollar.
Foot Locker in AT&T store completely looted. #BrooklynCenter pic.twitter.com/6kLGOUN63D
— Rebecca Brannon (@RebsBrannon) April 12, 2021
Looters clean out Family Dollar.
A female yells, "When I beep this horn it means come out!"#BrooklynCenter pic.twitter.com/r26eVGZeOc
— Rebecca Brannon (@RebsBrannon) April 12, 2021
Large group of looters has now resumed back at O'Reilly's auto store.
A female looters says, "I need this! I need this!" #BrooklynCenter pic.twitter.com/yYbVfKnVmy
— Rebecca Brannon (@RebsBrannon) April 12, 2021
Liquor store currently being looted with people trying to take an ATM too.#BrooklynCenter pic.twitter.com/9kYP5h8jRg
— Rebecca Brannon (@RebsBrannon) April 12, 2021
Even though Brooklyn Center Police “did not immediately identify Wright or disclose his race,” Democrat Gov. Tim Walz tweeted that he joined the state in mourning “another life of a Black man taken by law enforcement.”
I am closely monitoring the situation in Brooklyn Center. Gwen and I are praying for Daunte Wright’s family as our state mourns another life of a Black man taken by law enforcement.
— Governor Tim Walz (@GovTimWalz) April 12, 2021
The rioting comes less than one year after violent destruction in Minneapolis following the death of George Floyd. Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who was charged with Floyd’s death, is currently facing the third week of his trial.
Source: The Federalist
