Politics
Daunte Wright’s family ‘has been receiving death threats’ & ‘some people are happy the cop killed him,’ attorney claims
DAUNTE Wright’s family have “received death threats” and are being contacted by people “happy the cop killed him,” their attorney claims.
Attorney Thomas Bowers told a press conference on Friday that the family has received “disturbing” racist calls and emails over Wright’s death earlier this month.
Daunte Wright’s family have been targeted with death threats[/caption]
Wright’s mother Katie broke down as she spoke at his funeral[/caption]
The 20-year-old was shot and killed by Minneapolis police officer Kim Potter on April 11 during a traffic stop when she allegedly mistook her taser for her gun.
The shooting took place in Brooklyn Center just ten miles from the trial of ex-cop Derek Chauvin who has been convicted for the murder of George Floyd.
Wright’s death sparked another wave of Black Lives Matter protests across the country but Bowers claims the family has been hurt by some of the comments.
It included a statement from a police association that Wright would still be alive if he complied with officers during the traffic stop, CNN reports.
The attorney who represents the mother of Wright’s child has spoken out[/caption]
Daunte Jr’s mother has revealed her heartbreak that their son lost his dad[/caption]
Wright, 20, was shot by officer Kim Potter during a traffic stop[/caption]
“There have been some threats to the family, which is disturbing,” said Bowers, who represents the mother of Wright’s child Chyna Whitaker.
Bowers said that the threats meant “there are concerns as far as safety for the family that we’re addressing.”
“It’s painful for a family to have to not only go through a funeral and see him there laying there lifeless,” he added.
“It’s even more painful to have to relive this every single day.”
“It’s time to send the officer that killed him to jail and let justice be done,” Bowers concluded.
During the press conference, Whitaker read a letter to Wright.
“Where did you go? Why did you leave?” she said.
“My heart breaks for our son. He’s only a year old and without his dad.
Wright’s mother Katie with civil rights attorney Ben Crump[/caption]
George Floyd’s family attended Daunte Wright’s funeral on Thursday[/caption]
Rev. Al Sharpton and Ben Crump gathered with other mourners[/caption]
“When I look at his face it makes me want to cry…the fact that somebody took you from him, it leaves me speechless,” she added.
“This feels like a nightmare. The thing is it’s not a bad dream. It’s reality.”
Wright was buried on Thursday after a funeral ceremony attended by George Floyd’s family, and Minnesota lawmakers Rep Ilhan Oman, Senator Amy Klobuchar, and Gov Tim Walz.
During the ceremony, his parents broke down as they addressed the mourners.
The 20-year-old’s mother Katie Wright said that it should have been her son burying her and that she “never imagined” she would be at his funeral.
“My son had a smile that was worth a million dollars,” Wright said.
“When he walked in the room, he lit up the room. He was a brother, a jokester, he was loved by so many. He’s going to be so missed.”
Doves were released at Wright’s graveside on Thursday[/caption]
Armed members of the Minnesota Freedom Fighters stood guard outside a church[/caption]
Rev Al Sharpton (right) delivered Wright’s eulogy[/caption]
Kim Potter was released from jail after posting $100,000 bond[/caption]
Wright’s eulogy was delivered by Rev Al Sharpton who called him the “Prince of Brooklyn Center.”
Sharpton and the attending lawmakers all called for the introduction of the George Floyd Policing Act.
The officer responsible for Wright’s shooting, Kim Potter, has since resigned from Brooklyn Center police.
She has also been arrested and charged with second-degree manslaughter, though has not yet entered a plea.
Potter was released from jail after posting $100,000 bond.
Her attorney, Earl Gray, has so far declined to comment on the case.
Bodycam footage of the shooting was released last week, showing several officers attempted to arrest Wright for an outstanding warrant.
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In the footage, Potter is heard threatening to stun Wright with her taser, before firing her handgun.
Former Police Chief Tim Gannon, who also resigned in the wake of the shooting, called the incident an accident.
It comes as conservative firebrand Candace Owens blasted coverage of Wright’s death and claimed she wanted to speak to the victim he “physically assaulted and robbed” in a previous incident.
