On Friday, February 18, former Minnesota police officer Kim Potter was given a two- year prison sentence. This comes after she accidentally pulled her gun and fatally shot Daunte Wright instead of retrieving her taser.
Potter will have to serve at least 16 months of her sentence. She will also have eight months of supervision after she is released.
“To the family of Daunte Wright, I am so sorry that I brought the death of your son, father, brother, uncle, grandson, and nephew. Katie, I understand a mother’s love, and I am sorry that I broke your heart. My heart is broken for all of you,” Potter said while crying at the sentencing.
Judge Regina Chu noted that Potter had served the community with grace for 26 years. She added that many people had praised Potter, in written letters, for her work. The judge also pointed out that Potter seemed extremely remorseful.
Prosecutors were asking for a seven-year sentence in the case. However, defense lawyers were calling for probation only, stating that Potter’s actions were an “innocent mistake.”
The fatal shooting occurred after Wright was pulled over for invalid tags.
Potter could be seen and heard on camera footage yelling, “I’ll tase you! Taser! Taser! Taser! She then shot a bullet into Wright. “I grabbed the wrong f—-king gun,” she said before fainting.
“I feel cheated. I feel hurt,” Wright’s father stated after Potter received her punishment.
