As a verdict in the Derek Chauvin murder trial looms, an already tense Minneapolis area has become the site of another officer involved shooting. A crowd gathered in Brooklyn Park this afternoon — A Minneapolis suburb — after 20 year-old Daunte Wright was shot and killed by police.
According to a statement from the Brooklyn Park Police Department, the shooting occurred around 2 p.m. on Sunday after Wright was pulled over. Wright, who was not named in the statement but was identified by family members, had an outstanding warrant. While officers were attempting to take the driver into custody, he re-entered the vehicle and attempted to flee.
At this time, officers discharged their weapons. The vehicle then traveled several blocks before striking another car and coming to a stop. Wright was pronounced dead at the scene while a female passenger sustained non-life threatening injuries.
The press release also stated that both officers were wearing body cameras and that an investigation was underway.
A crowd began to grow around the scene of the shooting as news broke. Not long after, riot police arrived on scene and set up a perimeter. After a few hours, videos from the scene showed rioters jumping on top of and vandalizing police cars.
The crowd then began to spread out and head towards the Brooklyn Park Police Department headquarters. According to the department, the building took gunfire around 8 p.m. local time. A glass door in the building lobby was shattered, though no injuries have been reported.
Crowds also began to gather at a police precinct in neighboring Brooklyn Center. At a certain point, the crowd was given ten minutes to disperse before tear gas was to be deployed. Tear gas, rubber bullets and other riot control measures were then deployed. The riot control measures have spilled over into residential areas.
Rioting and looting has also broken out in Brooklyn Center. Dozens of businesses have been looted and police do not appear to have control, though some attempts seem to have been thwarted. Looting has also been reported in other areas of Minneapolis proper.
Daunte Wright’s aunt called violence on social media. “They just killed my nephew! Minneapolis can burn the ***k down,” she said in a Facebook post.
UPDATE, 1:03 a.m. ET
Looting continues in Brooklyn Center despite a growing police response. The Citizen Reporter shared a video they say was recorded just 20 minutes ago in which the looting of a liquor store can be seen.
MN Crime has also reported multiple armed robberies in the Minneapolis area, though it is unclear if these are crimes of opportunity due to the ongoing riot response.
The Minnesota National Guard has been deployed to Brooklyn City and is already on the ground.