Attorneys Ben Crump, Antonio Romanucci, Jeff Storms say no reasonable officer would have shot Daunte Wright

Nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorneys Ben Crump, co-counsel Antonio Romanucci and Jeff Storms along with the family of Daunte Wright attended the first day of the criminal trial for former Brooklyn Center, Minnesota police officer Kim Potter.  Potter is charged with 1st and 2nd degree manslaughter for the shooting death of Daunte Wright during a traffic stop on April 11, 2021.

The attorneys who represent the family in civil legal matters, said the young man’s death was senseless and preventable:

“This is yet another death of a young Black man by police that defies common sense. No reasonable officer would confuse a sidearm for a taser.  We must not be fooled by the Defense’s cries of an ‘innocent mistake.’ No reasonable officer can confuse their taser for a gun, particularly one who had drawn both of those weapons from her duty belt countless times,” said Attorney Ben Crump of Ben Crump Law. “Additionally, Kim Potter had situational awareness, held the gun in her hand for 3-4  seconds, called out taser, taser, taser, and had adequate time to realize what was happening before she fired her weapon. She must be held accountable for her actions.”

“This encounter was a pre-textual, unnecessary stop of a young Black man for nothing more than a minor traffic infraction.  Daunte Wright should not have been stopped or shot. States and local governments across the country have acknowledged the need to stop this senseless overreach of police by proposing or putting into law that these low-level matters should not serve as the basis for a stop, arrest, or the engagement of an armed officer,” said Attorney Antonio Romanucci of Romanucci & Blandin.

“Kim Potter’s conduct was not a mere accident or a mistake but an unlawful and unconstitutional use of force under the 4th Amendment.  It never should have happened. Daunte should be here among us, hugging his parents, siblings, and young son during this holiday season,” said Attorney Jeff Storms of Newmark Storms Dworak.

Rev. De-Ves Toon from the National Action Network also attended the trial with the family, stating, “Traffic stops are entirely different for white vs. Black teenagers. Even if Black citizens do everything police say they are still terrified they will end up injured or dead. From the moment a police encounter begins it can create intense fight or flight responses. Black citizens have a historical basis for their fears. This is an unfortunate but very real part of life in Black America and it has to stop.”

Daunte Wright’s family shared the following statement: “Daunte’s parents, his siblings and all those who cared about him are so eager for accountability and to have people understand how much we still grieve his loss. The fact that this trial is taking place at the holidays further emphasizes his absence in our world and we hope the jury holds Kim Potter accountable for her actions. ”

About Ben Crump Law

Nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump and his national network of specialized attorneys have spearheaded a legal movement to better protect the rights of marginalized citizens. He has led landscape-changing civil rights cases and represented clients in a wide range of areas including civil rights, personal injury, labor and employment, class actions, and more. Ben Crump Law is dedicated to holding the powerful accountable. For more, visit BenCrump.com or call (800) 935-8111.

About Romanucci & Blandin, LLC

Romanucci & Blandin is a Chicago-based national trial practice committed to fighting for victims of negligence, abuse and wrongful death. Founded in 1998, we have decades of history securing verdicts and settlements for our clients - many for millions of dollars and others record-setting awards.  Our expertise ranges from medical malpractice and sexual abuse cases involving individual or institutional negligence to civil rights, police misconduct and workers compensation, making Romanucci & Blandin a valuable legal resource to individuals and groups of people who have been injured by others’ wrongdoing. Referring attorneys and clients say several factors differentiate our firm: Our record of success, depth of experience, talented and dedicated legal team, tireless preparation and strategic use of communications to fight for the rights of those whose lives have been changed forever. We are different from other personal injury firms in that our work does not stop when a verdict or settlement is secured. We are often inspired by our clients’ experiences and commit resources to create change in our communities. For more information about Romanucci & Blandin, please visit www.rblaw.net or call (312) 458-1000.

About Newmark Storms Dworak LLC 

Newmark Storms Dworak LLC is one of Minnesota’s premier boutique law firms. The Minneapolis firm regularly handles high-profile civil rights, medical malpractice, and sexual abuse claims. For more information, visit www.newmarkstorms.com.

About National Action Network 

National Action Network is one of the leading civil rights organizations in the nation with chapters throughout the entire United States. Founded in 1991 by Reverend Al Sharpton, NAN works within the spirit and tradition of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to promote a modern civil rights agenda that includes the fight for one standard of justice, decency and equal opportunities for all people regardless of race, religion, nationality or gender.

For more information go to www.nationalactionnetwork.net