Obama says he grieves with the family of Daunte Wright, makes call to 'reimagine policing and public safety'
- Former President Barack Obama on Tuesday expressed grief at the police killing of Daunte Wright.
- Obama called for a full investigation and made a plea to "reimagine policing."
- Wright was killed on Sunday during a traffic stop in Brooklyn Center, a suburb of Minneapolis.
Former President Barack Obama on Tuesday expressed grief at the police killing of Daunte Wright, a 20-year old Black man, in Minnesota on Sunday, while calling for a full investigation and making a plea to "reimagine policing."
In a statement, Obama connected Wright's death to that of George Floyd, who was killed at the hands of the Minneapolis police last year.
"Our hearts are heavy over yet another shooting of a Black man, Daunte Wright, at the hands of police," he said. "The fact that this could happen even as the city of Minneapolis is going through the trial of Derek Chauvin and reliving the heart-wrenching murder of George Floyd indicates not just how important it is to conduct a full and transparent investigation, but also just how badly we need to reimagine policing and public safety in this country."
Chauvin, the officer seen most prominently in videos pinning Floyd to the ground, is on trial, facing charges of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter.
Obama said that he and former first lady Michelle Obama were thinking of the Wright family.
"Michelle and I grieve alongside the Wright family for their loss," he continued. "We empathize with the pain that Black mothers, fathers, and children are feeling after yet another senseless tragedy. And we will continue to work with all fair-minded Americans to confront historical inequities and bring about nationwide changes that are so long overdue."
Wright was killed at about 2 p.m. on Sunday during a traffic stop in Brooklyn Center, a suburb of Minneapolis.
The police officer who fatally shot Wright has been identified as Kimberly A. Potter, the Star Tribune reported.
On Monday, Brooklyn Center Police Chief Tim Gannon said that the officer had meant to use her Taser but used her gun instead. Gannon described it as an "accidental discharge." Potter had not yet been identified as the officer.
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension later released a statement identifying Potter as the officer who had discharged her weapon.
"Officer Kim Potter has been with the Brooklyn Center Police Department for 26 years," the bureau said. "She is on standard administrative leave. Further personnel data are not public from the BCA under Minnesota law during an active investigation."