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Daunte Wright was ‘accidentally’ shot dead by officer who was trying to taser him

<p>People stand on a police cruiser as protesters take to the streets after Brooklyn Center police shot and killed Daunte Wright during a traffic stop on April 11, 2021 in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota.</p> (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

People stand on a police cruiser as protesters take to the streets after Brooklyn Center police shot and killed Daunte Wright during a traffic stop on April 11, 2021 in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota.

(Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

Daunte Wright was “accidentally” shot dead by officer who was trying to taser him, police say.

The Brooklyn Center police chief says that the female officer meant to pull out her taser weapon but instead grabbed her handgun and shot Mr Wright.

Police Chief Tim Gannon told a press conference that if was “an accidental discharge that resulted in the death of Mr Wright.”

Chief Gannon said that the officer was receiving counselling, while Mayor Mike Elliott said he supported the firing of the officer.

Mr Wright, 20, was pulled over by police on Sunday afternoon for having expired tags on his car, police confirmed.

Body cam video footage played by the police department showed that a struggle took place as officers attempted to handcuff Mr Wright outside of his car.

During the struggle the officer pulled out her weapon and fired it once, before Mr Wright got back in his car and drove off.

The officer can then be heard telling officers that she had shot Mr Wright.

The police chief told reporters that he would not resign, before walking out of the press conference.

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