A US police officer who fatally shot a black man during a scuffle that followed a routine traffic stop in Minnesota will be charged with second-degree manslaughter, authorities say.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Kim Potter, a 26-year veteran who resigned from the police force on Tuesday, was taken into custody on Wednesday morning over the shooting, which sparked days of unrest in Minneapolis.
She will be charged in Hennepin County jail for fatally shooting 20-year-old Daunte Wright on Sunday afternoon, the state's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said in a statement.
The Washington County Attorney's office was expected to file the charge against her later on Wednesday.
Wright was shot on Sunday after being pulled over for what police said was an expired car registration, and officers discovered there was a warrant out for his arrest.
Former Brooklyn Centre police chief Tim Gannon said Potter accidentally drew her pistol instead of her Taser during a struggle with Wright, who got back into his car.
In body camera video of the incident, Potter can be heard shouting "I'll Tase you! I'll Tase you! Taser! Taser! Taser!" before firing a shot from her handgun.
Cases of officers mistakenly firing their gun instead of a Taser do happen, but experts say they are extremely rare, usually less than once a year nationwide.
To be convicted of second-degree manslaughter under Minnesota law, prosecutors must show that Potter was "culpably negligent" and took an "unreasonable risk" in her actions against Wright.
The charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
Reuters/AP
Australian Associated Press
