The body cam footage of the moments before a black man was shot during a traffic stop in Minnesota was released on Monday.
Police Chief Tim Gannon said that the weapon discharge was accidental and that the cop was instead reaching for her taser.
The officer can be heard shouting, "oh shit, I just shot him," after shooting Daunte Wright, who drove off before succumbing to his injuries.
Brooklyn Center Police Chief Tim Gannon calls the shooting of Daunte Wright an "accidental discharge":
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) April 12, 2021
“It is my belief that the officer had the intention to employ their taser, but instead shot Mr. Wright with a single bullet.” pic.twitter.com/TM2mn3VXZv
"It appeared to me in the video that the individual was trying to get back into his car to leave," Gannon said.
Protests broke out later on, which then lead to looting and riots. The Minnesota National Guard was then deployed.
Police have set off flash bangs and chemical munitions to clear the crowd out of Brooklyn Center police department parking lot. @MPRnews pic.twitter.com/Xsu5CiyuHg
— Tim Nelson (@timnelson_mpr) April 12, 2021
According to the Brooklyn Center Police Department, officers initiated a traffic stop at the 6300 block of Orchard Ave shortly before 2 pm Sunday.
A statement from police said that during the stop, officers determined that the driver had an outstanding warrant.
Officers and medical personnel attempted life saving measures, but the driver died at the scene. According to EMS audio, paramedics arrived at 1:48 pm and found one person dead.
"Our hearts are aching right now," Brooklyn Center Mayor Mike Elliott said. "And we recognize that this couldn’t have happened at a worse time. We recognize that this is happening at a time when our community, when all of America, indeed, all of the world, is watching our community We are collectively devastated."