Brooklyn Center and Minneapolis rocked by second consecutive night of looting and riots

Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the Brooklyn Center Police Department Monday night, in violation of a citywide curfew which began at 7pm, in response to riots and looting which rocked the city following the shooting of Daunte Wright by a police officer.

Daunte Wright, 20, was fatally shot during a traffic stop after resisting arrest for an outstanding warrant on a weapons charge. Brooklyn Center Police Chief Tim Gannon said the officer who shot Wright had intended to use a Taser and fired their gun instead. The female officer has been identified as Kim Potter, a 26 year veteran of the Brooklyn Center Police Department.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter announced the curfew which will remain in place through 6 AM Tuesday morning. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz also placed a 7 PM to 6 AM curfew on Anoka, Hennepin and Ramsey counties.

Heavy rain, freezing temperatures and a prediction of snow did not deter the protesters, many of who showed up dressed in all black. Police had preemptively installed concrete barriers around the precinct earlier in the day.

Police attempted to disperse the protesters around 7:30 PM but most of the protesters refused comply with multiple dispersal orders. Rioters were seen throwing objects and launching fireworks at police officers. Police responded by launching tear gas in multiple attempts to disperse the crowd.

The crowd refused to disperse and Police pushed forward into the streets to back the mob away from the precinct, arresting rioters along the way.

Rioters looted nearby businesses including Target and Boost Mobile. A Dollar Tree was also looted and set on fire.

Many area businesses boarded up their windows in anticipation of a second night of riots. That did not deter the looters who removed the plywood and ransacked the stores.

Julio Rosas, reporter for the Town Hall Media, observed some stores being protected by "civilians with firearms."

Gunshots were heard in various neighborhoods in the area.

A light National Guard presense was seen near stores that had been looted the previous evening but as of publishing had yet to attempt to quell the riots or looting.