20-year-old Daunte Wright was shot to death by a police officer on Sunday in the US state of Minnesota. Clashes with police and protesters had the government impose an emergency curfew from 7 PM to 6 AM, local time.
Was shooting of Daunte 'accidental'?
Reports convey that the officers found that Wright was warranted for an arrest after he was pulled over for a traffic violation. The Minnesota police ex-chief Tim Gannon stated that the struggle between the police officers and Mr Wright led to the shooting as they were straining to get him detained.
The ex-chief added on Monday that the incident was an "accidental discharge" and that the officer Kim Potter didn't intend to use her gun but a Taser during the struggle. Potter and Gannon resigned on Tuesday, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said in a statement.
Wright's aunt Naisha said during a press conference that whether a taser or a gun both got its safety pin and that her nephew was killed because she (Potter) released it.
Aubrey Wright, the victim's father, told ABC News on Tuesday that he refuses to accept that the shooting was accidental.
"They could have given him a ticket, given him a notice to show up. But just like in George Floyd, they used the most force when it comes to dealing with marginalized minorities," said Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump to ABC News. "And we can't have these two Americas, one where we treat Black Americans different from white Americans in policing."
Protest and clashes soar in the state
The killing of George Floyd had instigated protests worldwide with #BlackLivesMatter trending in social media. Wright's killing befell as white former police officer Derek Chauvin faces a trial for the smothering of Floyd in Minneapolis last May with the charge of third-degree murder.
Responding to the press charges on the officers, demonstrations continued on the third night with hundreds of protestors grouped against police. About 60 protesters have been arrested for violating a curfew that was imposed, local media reported.
"The fact is that we do know that the anger, pain and trauma that exists in the Black community in that environment is real. It's serious and consequential. But it will not justify violence," said US President Joe Biden on Monday as he called for calm protests.
Initial reports ruled the killing of Wright as a homicide.