Officer who fatally shot Daunte Wright freed from US prison

WASHINGTON

Kim Potter, the ex-Brooklyn Center police officer who fatally shot Daunte Wright in 2021, was released from prison on Monday, serving 16 months of a two-year prison sentence.

Potter, who is white, was released around 4 a.m. local time (1100 GMT) from Minnesota Correctional Facility-Shakopee. The Minnesota Department of Corrections confirmed last week that she was to be released on Monday, but declined to provide a specific time due to security considerations.

The decision to release her in the early morning hours was made "out of an abundance of caution for the safety of Ms. Potter, DOC staff and the security of the correctional facility," Minnesota Department of Corrections spokesperson Andy Skoogman said in a statement.

"Based on the intelligence we gathered, we released Ms. Potter at a time we felt was safest for her and for everyone at the correctional facility," he said.

Potter was convicted in December 2021 of first- and second-degree manslaughter in the April 11, 2021 shooting during a traffic stop in a suburb of Minneapolis. She claimed during her trial that she confused her handgun for her taser when she pulled the trigger.

Wright’s family believes the two-year sentence was too lenient.

Potter broke down in tears while addressing Wright’s family before the judge handed down her sentence in February 2022.

"I am so sorry that I brought the death of your son," she said, directly addressing Wright’s mother via a court webcam. "Katie, I understand a mother’s love, and I am sorry I broke your heart. My heart is broken for all of you."

Potter served two-thirds of her prison sentence, and will serve the additional eight months on supervised release in the neighboring state of Wisconsin. That is in-line with Minnesota's sentencing guidelines, Skoogman said.

"The term of imprisonment is set by law; there is no parole board and no time off for good behavior," he said.

*Rabia Iclal Turan contributed to the story