Wright was killed on April 11 in the city of Brooklyn Center in Minnesota. The police demanded that he stop his vehicle on the side of the road, because of a traffic offense he committed. After Wright stopped his vehicle and got out of it, the cops discovered that there was an arrest warrant against him. As the cops tried to handcuff him between the sides a fight ensued, and Wright returned to his vehicle.
In a document released by the Brooklyn Center Police, from the camera that was on policewoman Potter’s body, she is heard shouting “Taser! Taser!” During the fight between the cops and Wright. After one bullet was fired, Wright fled the scene injured. “Holly sailing, I shot him,” the policewoman said in a document released. The wounded Wright kept driving – until he died on the road. Wright’s death led to a wave of protests and riots in Brooklyn Center.
Potter, who retired from Brooklyn Center Police after the tragedy, expressed remorse during the trial. The prosecution accepted the claim that Potter was confused, and that she had no intention of killing Wright. However the prosecution claimed that Potter, who had served in the police force for 26 years, was an experienced policewoman and therefore her mistake could not be justified.
Potter’s defense attorneys argued that Wright’s opposition to the arrest led to a dangerous situation – so the use of force was justified. They acknowledged that Potter had made a mistake, but said the acts were not criminal because she thought she was using her teaser – and was unaware that she was pulling out a regular gun.
Potter was convicted of first- and second-degree murder, and his sentence will be handed down in February. The maximum sentence she can receive is 15 years in prison, but since she has no criminal record her prison sentence is expected to be lighter.