Like a powder keg ready to burst, tension has been building to fire the Brooklyn Center police officer who shot and killed 20-year-old Daunte Wright during a routine traffic stop. Now, both she and the chief of police have resigned.
Tuesday, Kim Potter, a 26-year veteran of the department offered up her resignation effective immediately.
Potter’s resignation was announced by Law Enforcement Labor Services, a labor union.
“Due to the ongoing investigation being conducted, Law Enforcement Labor Services is unable to provide any additional information or statements,” the statement from LELS said.
Also announced at a Tuesday press conference, Brooklyn Center Police Chief Tim Gannon resigned too.
The incident took place in Brooklyn Center, just a few miles from where the trial is being held for former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who is charged with the murder of George Floyd.
Brooklyn Center Mayor Mike Elliott, the city’s first Black mayor, called the shooting in his city “deeply tragic” and said Potter should be fired.
Elliott says he appreciates Officer Porter and Chief Gannon's stepping down and that he's confident the city will be able to turn over a new leaf. Brooklyn Center Police Commander Tony Gruenig has been appointed Acting Police Chief.
"It's very chaotic right now. I was just informed about the whole change in status. There's just a lot of chaos going on right now and we're just trying to wrap our heads around the situation and try and create some calm," said Gruenig.
Gruenig is a 19 year veteran of the Brooklyn Center police department.
According to WCCO-TV, Elliott announced Monday night that the City Council had fired the city manager and voted to give the mayor’s office “command authority” over the police force.
“We’re going to do everything we can to ensure that justice is done and our communities are made whole,” Elliott said.
Elliot says he would like Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison's office to handle any possible charges following the Minnesota BCA's investigation. Right now the case is being handled by the Washington County Attorney's Office.
Monday, the city’s police chief announced in a press conference that Potter mistakenly grabbed her gun when she believed she going for her Taser.
Potter, who is white, can be heard on body camera video shouting “Taser! Taser!”
Wright’s father, Aubrey Wright, told ABC’s “Good Morning America” on Tuesday that he rejects that explanation.
“I lost my son. He’s never coming back. I can’t accept that. A mistake? That doesn’t even sound right. This officer has been on the force for 26 years. I can’t accept that,” he said.
Wright was shot as police were trying to arrest him on an outstanding warrant.
After firing a single shot from her handgun, the car speeds away, and the officer is heard saying, “Holy (expletive)! I shot him.”
Police Chief Tim Gannon on Monday would not say whether Potter would be fired, saying she was entitled to due process.
“I think we can watch the video and ascertain whether she will be returning,” the chief said.
AP contributed to this story.