Message following death of Daunte Wright in Brooklyn Center

From the County Manager

Yesterday afternoon, Daunte Wright, a 20-year-old Black man, was shot by a Brooklyn Center police officer following a traffic stop. This morning, we continue to have far more questions than answers about this tragic incident and we mourn with the family of Mr. Wright and our entire community over the loss of another young life. I want to provide you with the most up to date information that we have, while acknowledging there is so much that remains unclear at this time.

This morning, Brooklyn Center Mayor Mike Elliott said:

Our entire community is filled with grief following today's officer-involved shooting of Daunte Wright, a 20-year-old young man. 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.

By yesterday evening, hundreds of protestors had gathered at Brooklyn Center Police headquarters and were dispersed by law enforcement. Into the night, many nearby businesses were damaged during looting and unrest.  

Public Safety Commissioner John Harrington held an early morning news conference representing Operation Safety Net - the multi-agency initiative underway during the trial in Minneapolis. Harrington affirmed that the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is investigating the officer-involved shooting and that additional National Guard and state troopers have been deployed and would be visible and active around the Twin Cities.

Please know that we’re monitoring developments closely across the river and here in Ramsey County.

Update: Brooklyn Center officials held a midday news conference covered by numerous media organizations - here's the report from Minnesota Public Radio.

Operation Safety Net will hold a news conference at 2 p.m. today where we can expect an update from our regional partners. We will continue providing updates on RamseyNet. In-person and virtual Healing Circles and other supports for our employees and our community are currently available – with virtual and in-person events scheduled for later today.

Events and resources for community

I encourage you to utilize these resources and to continue reaching out to one another for support during these times in which sadness, confusion, frustration, anger and heartbreak have become all too commonplace for us all. Today and in the days ahead, please seek out even small ways to show grace, empathy, compassion and love to the ones around you. They need feelings of warmth and hope. We all do.

-Ryan