Daunte Wright’s family has received death threats and racist calls since police fatally shot the 20-year-old, their lawyer said Friday (April 23). During a press conference, attorney Thomas Bowers said Wright’s parents have received threatening calls and emails, with some people even saying they’re “happy” Wright was killed.
“There have been some threats to the family, which is disturbing,” Bowers said. “It’s time to send the officer that killed him to jail and let justice be done.”
Wright was buried on Thursday (April 22). The mother of his child, Chyna Whitaker, spoke during the ceremony and says she grieves for their one-year-old son.
“My heart breaks for our son. He’s only a year old and without his dad,” she said. “When I look at his face it makes me want to cry… the fact that somebody took you from him, it leaves me speechless.”
“This feels like a nightmare. The thing is it’s not a bad dream; it’s reality,” she added.
Wright’s mother Katie also spoke during the emotional ceremony.
“I never imagined that I would be standing here,” she said. “The roles should completely be reversed. My son should be burying me.”
His mother continued, “My son had a smile that was worth a million dollars. When he walked in the room, he lit up the room. He was a brother, a jokester, he was loved by so many. He’s going to be so missed.”
The family was joined at the ceremony by civil rights lawyer Ben Crump, some of George Floyd’s relatives and Al Sharpton.
As reported by REVOLT, Kim Potter — the former Brooklyn Center cop who fatally shot Wright — was charged with second-degree manslaughter earlier this month. She was arrested, and quickly released on bail, on April 14.
Potter made her first remote appearance in court the next day. She faces up to 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine if convicted of the charge.