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Who is Katie Wright? Daunte Wright's mother says son got shot by police for 'having air fresheners in the car’

'All he did was have air fresheners in the car and they told him out the car, he got out of the car and his girlfriend said they shot him,' the grieving mother said

PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA: The mother of a young Black man, who was shot dead by police just 11 miles from where George Floyd was killed in May last year, has spoken up about the tragedy. Daunte Wright's grieving mother Katie Wright said on Sunday, April 11, as reported by Newsweek, “He called me at about 1:40 [pm], said he was getting pulled over by the police. He said they pulled him over because he had air fresheners hanging from his rearview mirror.”

She continued, “My son was 20 years old; he got pulled over for having air fresheners in the car that I just gave him. All he did was have air fresheners in the car and they told him out the car, he got out of the car and his girlfriend said they shot him. He got back in the car and he drove away and crashed. And now he's been dead on the ground since 1:47 [pm],” before adding, “No one will tell us anything, no one will talk to us. The VCA just says they are investigating it; I asked them to please take my son off the ground he's been there since 1:47 [pm] this afternoon.”

In the same video, another person was reportedly heard saying that it was six in the evening and police had not yet moved Daunte’s body.

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Who was Daunte Wright? Man, 20, shot dead by Brooklyn Center cops as he tried to get into car amid traffic stop

Daunte Wright's shooting at Brooklyn Center sparks massive looting: 'Police brutality, time to grab some Nike'

As per reports, the 20-year-old father-of-one, was with his girlfriend on Sunday afternoon in the Minneapolis suburb of Brooklyn Cente when he was shot by officers during a traffic stop. The police department released a statement regarding the case. It says cops “initiated a stop for a traffic violation in the area of the 6300 block of Orchard Ave. in Brooklyn Center shortly before 2 pm Sunday.”

It added, “Officers determined that the driver of the vehicle had an outstanding warrant. At one point as officers were attempting to take the driver into custody, the driver re-entered the vehicle. One officer discharged their firearm, striking the driver. The vehicle traveled several blocks before striking another vehicle. Officers in pursuit and responding medical personnel attempted life-saving measures, but the person died at the scene.”

Daunte's death triggered a protest in which people gathered outside the Brooklyn Center Police Department to demand justice. Later reports stated that police deployed tear gas and flash-bang grenades Sunday night to disperse the protesters. It has also been said that the Minnesota National Guard was deployed in Brooklyn Center during the night. The chaos reportedly forced Brooklyn Center Mayor Mike Elliott to announce a curfew late Sunday night until six in the morning. In a statement, he said, “Our hearts are with his family, and with all those in our community impacted by this tragedy. While we await additional information from the BCA who is leading the investigation, we continue to ask that members of our community gathering do so peacefully, amid our calls for transparency and accountability.”

Meanwhile, a petition has been started on Change.org to get justice for Daunte's death. The message of the petition read, “20 year old man Daunte Wright was murdered by Minneapolis police. He was pulled over for having an air freshener obstructing the view of his rear view mirror. The officers refused to tell him why he got pulled over, so he got back in his car to drive away, and they shot him. The car traveled several blocks before crashing into another vehicle. He died at the scene of the crash. His body was left on the street for hours by the police. He was a father to a two year old. Help get Daunte Wright and his family justice.”

Meanwhile, several people on Twitter expressed their anger over the untimely death of Daunte as one user wrote, “It's already unnatural to bury your own child. It is diabolical to have to do it because a cop murdered them over an air freshener. Qualified immunity allows hoods to kill without consequence. Spare me any other take. My heart goes out to Daunte's family. THIS WAS SENSELESS.”

Another user said, “That’s his Mom? She looks like she’s 20 herself. Regardless it’s so heartbreaking watching this and seeing the pain on their faces.” A person added, “I am absolutely destroyed for his family and his poor son ... im tired of it.”