Hundreds of apparent Black Lives Matter rioters smashed police cars, vandalized a police station, and looted businesses in Minneapolis after law enforcement shot and killed a man during a traffic stop after the man, who had an outstanding warrant, allegedly ran from police after they pulled him over.
Rocks and other objects were thrown at law enforcement officials in response to the shooting death of Daunte Wright, 20, while nearly two dozen businesses were broken into. A police officer was also transported to a hospital with injuries.
“Officers repeatedly ordered the crowd of about 500 to disperse as protesters chanted Wright’s name and climbed atop the police headquarters sign, by then covered in graffiti. Police used tear gas, flash bangs and rubber bullets on the crowd,” The Star Tribune reported. “National Guard troops arrived just before midnight as looters targeted the Brooklyn Center Walmart and nearby shopping mall. Several businesses around the Walmart were completely destroyed, including Foot Locker, T Mobile, and a New York men’s clothing store.”
The Brooklyn Center Police Department said in a statement that officers pulled over the suspect during a traffic stop on Sunday afternoon.
The statement said in part:
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.
The suspect’s mother said that she was on the phone with him when the incident happened, and she says that she heard police tell her son, “Daunte, don’t run.”
People looted a GameStop overnight in response to BLM inciting a riot & violence in Brooklyn Center (near Minneapolis) after police killed a criminal suspect evading arrest. #DuanteWright pic.twitter.com/LWPA4Xm7r2
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) April 12, 2021
The Brooklyn Center Walmart in Minnesota was broken into and looted in response to the BLM race rioting overnight after police shot dead a suspected gang member who was trying to escape a warrant arrest. #DaunteWright #Minneapolis pic.twitter.com/2s2At0sEFn
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) April 12, 2021
Brooklyn Center, Minn.: BLM rioter who was about to throw a large chunk of concrete at police was hit with an impact munition. He falls to the ground in pain. #Minneapolis pic.twitter.com/Yj0ZkS3rkF
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) April 12, 2021
#BLM protesters began rioting near Minneapolis in response to the police-involved shooting of a suspected gang member. pic.twitter.com/Pr7VNPPfoq
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) April 12, 2021
Wal-Mart is targeted by rioters in Minneapolis after just today meeting with 100 corporate executives discussing how to deal with changing election laws
This is one of many wal-marts destroyed by far left extremist groups such as BLM over the last year pic.twitter.com/TuzhzEghNq
— ELIJAH SCHAFFER (@ElijahSchaffer) April 12, 2021
BLM looters break inside & steal from an O’Reilly’s auto store overnight in Brooklyn Center, Minn. Auto stores were infamously looted & burnt to the ground last year in Minneapolis. #DaunteWright pic.twitter.com/nEHyR1Ck0x
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) April 12, 2021
A liquor store in Brooklyn Center, Minn. was destroyed by BLM looters overnight. #Minneapolis pic.twitter.com/fc1xwLT4LU
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) April 12, 2021
“I am closely monitoring the situation in Brooklyn Center,” Democrat Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz tweeted after the situation turned chaotic. “Gwen and I are praying for Daunte Wright’s family as our state mourns another life of a Black man taken by law enforcement.”
“Our entire community is filled with grief following today’s officer-involved shooting of Daunte Wright, a 20 year old young man,” Brooklyn Center Mayor Mike Elliott said on Twitter. “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.”
The fact-finding website Heavy.com linked to a Facebook account that they say belonged to the suspect. The account was filled with posts that included degrading remarks about women, joking about run from police, and joking about attacking police officers.
I've been trawling through the Facebook page of Daunte Wright, who was allegedly killed by Brooklyn Center police during a traffic stop. Here are some of the posts he made. pic.twitter.com/14VNHua72t
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) April 12, 2021
Daunte Wright wrote numerous misogynistic posts. pic.twitter.com/uWEIGNR1K7
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) April 12, 2021
Daunte Wright expressed hostility towards the police and shared his desire to commit violence toward police officers.
He wrote "U lucky we ain't take gun n pistol whip ya" in response to a video of a man choking a police officer with the caption "Peacefully fighting back✊🏿😂" pic.twitter.com/HyiX4dbfRR
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) April 12, 2021
The Brooklyn Police Department said that its officers wear body cameras, and they believe that the body cameras and dash cameras were activated during the incident.