Naisha Wright, the aunt of Daunte Wright, the 20-year-old Black man who was fatally shot by a Brooklyn Center police officer, has revealed that her nephew’s former teacher was the former girlfriend of George Floyd, who was also killed by police.
“And the craziest thing, is to find out today that my family has connections to this man, to this family,” write said during the press conference. “His girlfriend was a teacher for my nephew. My nephew was a lovable young man.”
Kim Potter, the officer who fatally shot Wright last week, resigned from her position on Tuesday. The 20-year-old was pulled over for having his air freshener hanging from his mirror and expired tags. Police then discovered that he had an outstanding warrant and attempted to place him under arrest. As he tried to get back into his car, Potter pulled her handgun and shot him in the chest.
She allegedly thought she had reached for her Taser.
“I have loved every minute of being a police officer and serving this community to the best of my ability, but I believe it is in the best interest of the community, the department and my fellow officers if I resign immediately,” she wrote in a letter sent to city officials.
Potter’s resignation means that she will be eligible for a pension.
Wright called for her nephew’s killer to be brought to justice.
“His smile, the most beautiful smile. Y’all took that,” she continued. “My nephew’s blood is on y’all hands. I’ve never seen my brother hurt like this before. Never. To hear my brother and to see my sister’s pain. Hold her accountable? Hold her higher than accountable. You train people on this stuff. Twenty-six years. Twenty-six years.”
The Hennepin County medical examiner ruled Duane Wright’s death as a homicide after suffering a gunshot wound to the chest.
