- The jury found former Minneapolis police officer Kim Potter guilty on all charges Thursday.
- Potter, a 49-year-old white woman, was convicted of first- and second-degree manslaughter after she says she accidentally drew and fired her gun instead of her Taser, killing Daunte Wright, a 20-year-old Black man, during a traffic stop in April 2021.
- During the trial, jurors saw body camera footage and police car dashboard video showing officers pull Wright over, the moments Potter threatened and then shot him and the life-saving efforts officers administered after he was pulled from the vehicle.
- The defense argued Potter made an error, saying "police officer are human beings." Attorneys representing Potter called a slew of witnesses to testify about Potter's "peaceful" and professional characters.
- Potter took the stand as the defense's final witness. She got emotional several times when recounting the moments of the shooting and seeing body camera footage from the incident.
- During the cross-examination, Potter broke down saying she was "so sorry" for shooting Wright and said she "never wanted to hurt anybody."
- Jury deliberations began Monday and lasted nearly 30 hours.
Kim Potter was processed into a woman's prison after her guilty verdict
Kim Potter was processed into the women's prison in Shakopee for the shooting death of Daunte Wright less than two hours after her guilty manslaughter convictions.
Her sentencing is set for February 18,2022.
JUST IN: Less than 2 hours after her manslaughter conviction, #KimPotter is processed into the women's prison in Shakopee for the shooting death of #DaunteWright. Sentencing to come on February 18th.#KimPotterTrial pic.twitter.com/MdWldgzC71
— Timothy Blotz (@TimBlotzFOX9) December 23, 2021
WATCH: The moment the guilty verdict was delivered
Watch the moment Kim Potter was found guilty of manslaughter in the death of Daunte Wright.
For first-degree manslaughter, the prosecution had to prove Potter caused Wright's death while committing "reckless handling or use of a firearm so as to endanger the safety of another with such force and violence that death or great bodily harm to any person was reasonably foreseeable."
The prosecution had to prove Potter cause Wright's death "by her culpable negligence" for the second-degree manslaughter charge, meaning she "caused an unreasonable risk and consciously took a chance of causing death or great bodily harm" to Wright while using or possessing a firearm.
Potter faces the minimum of 15 years in prison for the first-degree manslaughter charge, according to the Associated Press.
Wright family attorneys want to address 'systematic failures' of Brooklyn Center police
The civil rights attorneys representing the Wright family shared a message from the family following the guilty verdict.
"The Wright family is relieved that the justice system has provided some measures of accountability for the senseless death of their son, brother, father and friend," the statement read.
They said the traffic stop was "unnecessary and overreaching" and called for a "change in policing, training and protocols."
The attorneys now turn to ensuring Kim Potter receives "the strongest and most just sentence possible" and addressing "systematic failures" in the Brooklyn Center Police Department.
"If we are ever going to restore the confidence of Black and marginalized Americans in law enforcement, we need to have accountability and a commitment to listening and to create meaningful change," the statement read.
Civil rights attorneys representing Daunte Wright’s family released this statement in response to the guilty verdict in the #KimPotterTrial @WCCO pic.twitter.com/YXp2OUh70Y
— Erin Hassanzadeh WCCO (@erinreportsTV) December 23, 2021
Daunte Wright's mother details the family's reaction to Potter's guilty verdict
Daunte Wright's mother, Katie Bryant, gave her reaction of moments Kim Potter's guilty verdict was announced.
"The moment that we heard guilty on the manslaughter one, emotions every single emotion that you can imagine just running through your body at that moment. I kind of let out a yelp because it was built up in the anticipation of what was to come while we were waiting for the last few days. Now we've been able to process it. We want to thank the entire prosecution team. We want to take community support, everybody that has been in this long fight of accountability with us", Bryant said.
Minnesota DA looks ahead to sentencing
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said he is looking forward to a "fair" sentencing for Kim Potter.
During a press conference following the jury verdict, Ellison said he was reflecting on Daunte Wright's life "and who he could have become."
He said the jury brought accountability, but not justice, with their guilty verdict.
Ellison thanked the jury, the prosecution team and the community for its support during the trial. He added that his thoughts are with Potter and her family at this time, noting that she is "remorseful."
He said the prosecution will be calling for a "fair" sentencing for Potter in February and added that Wright's family will give a victim impact statement to "talk about how this tragic incident impacted their lives."
Crowds outside courthouse cheer after verdict is announced
People gathered outside the courthouse were eagerly awaiting the verdict in the Kim Potter trial.
— Nina Moini (@ninamoini) December 23, 2021
After the guilty verdict was announced, the small crowd cheered, waved signs and chanted "Justice for Daunte Wright."
According to reporters at the courthouse, Wright's brother, Damik, is among the crowd.
The reaction outside the Hennepin County Government Center when Kim Potter’s manslaughter guilty verdict was read.. pic.twitter.com/ZpB9MS3YFB
— Rob Olson (@RobOlsonFOX9) December 23, 2021
Potter to be sentenced in February
Kim Potter will be sentenced in February.
The sentencing date was set for Feb. 18, 2022 at 9 a.m.
Potter was handcuffed in the courtroom and taken into custody.
As she left, a man identified as Potter's husband yelled "I love you, Kim." She responded with a quiet, "I love you."
Attorneys argue over Potter's ability to stay free despite judges orders
After Potter's guilty verdicts were read, Hennepin County Judge Regina Chu ordered Potter into custody immediately and held without bail. Defense attorneys Earl Gray and Paul Engh argued that Potter should be allowed to stay free on bail until sentencing, saying she is a law abiding person who made a mistake and will not commit any crimes while free.
Prosecutor Matthew Frank countered the defense's statement by revealing that Potter is currently not living in Minnesota, and said she should remain in custody after being convicted of serious crimes.
"I cannot treat this case any differently than I would treat any other case," Chu said, siding with the state.
Judge Chu stood firm on her previous ruling and then ordered that Potter be taken into custody and held without bail.
Judge thanks jury for 'sacrifices'
Judge Regina Chu thanked the jury for their work during this trial.
"You are the heroes of this case," she said.
She said the jurors brought their common sense and life experiences into deliberations.
"You did your duty," she said. "I am proud of you, you should be proud of yourselves."
"Thank you for your sacrifices," she added.
Prosecution says Potter made a 'blunder of epic proportions'
During the closing arguments, prosecutor Erin Eldridge argued Potter made a "blunder of epic proportions" and did not have "a license to kill." The prosecution said a mistake was no defense.
The defense team, lead by attorney Earl Gray, argued Potter made an honest mistake by pulling her handgun instead of her Taser. He said Wright "caused the whole incident" after he attempted to get back in his car and leave when officers tried to place him under arrest.
Potter is charged with first- and second-degree manslaughter. She faces a seven-year sentence if found guilty. The prosecution previously said it will seek more jail time if she is convicted.
There was speculation of a hung jury after jurors asked Judge Regina Chu what to do if they couldn't agree earlier this week. She told them to continue deliberating.
Catch up on Newsweek's previous coverage of the trial
You can catch up on Newsweek's previous coverage of the Kim Potter trial below.
FULL STORY: Kim Potter Trial Live Updates: Closing Arguments Begin Monday
Jury has reached a decision
The jury reached a decision and will deliver it between 1:30 and 2 p.m. CT/ 2:30 and 3 p.m. ET.
According to a jury note, "a trial outcome has been reached and will be read on the record today." The note does not explicitly say a verdict has been reached.
The jury deliberated for over 27 hours over the last four days.
The Law & Crime Network will stream the jury decision on YouTube.
