Derek Chauvin Trial Overshadowed by Daunte Wright's Death

Racial Reckoning: The Arc of Justice

Coverage of the Derek Chauvin murder trial was overshadowed Monday by statewide updates regarding the fatal police shooting of 20-year-old Daunte Wright in nearby Brooklyn Center Sunday afternoon.

The young black man was stopped by police for a traffic violation; within moments he was shot and killed. While an investigation is underway, Brooklyn Center Police Chief Tim Gannon says the officer on duty accidentally drew and fired her gun when she meant to reach for her taser.

“This appears to me - from what I viewed and the officer’s reaction and distress immediately after - that this was an accidental discharge that resulted in a tragic death of Mr. Wright,” said Gannon.

Multiple elected officials expressed frustration at yet another life lost to law enforcement.

St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter says police violence needs to be tackled head on - not just in the police departments, but at the city and state levels.

"We have to know that Daunte Wright will not be the last name, will not be the last hashtag on this list, until and unless we take decisive and urgent action to ensure that he is,” said Carter.

Meanwhile the brother of George Floyd took the stand to give what’s called “spark of life testimony,” meant to humanize the victim. Philonise Floyd’s testimony took jurors back to George’s childhood. He shared photos of George as a young boy and told jurors how much he loved his mother.

“He would just lay up on her in the fetus position like he was still in the womb,” said Floyd. “And I’d say ‘Perry’ - because we called him Perry instead of George - and he would always say ‘Hold on, let me kiss momma before I come over there.’”

The defense declined cross-examination.

Georgia Fort reporting for the Racial Reckoning project