(The Post Millennial) – Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the Brooklyn Center Police Department Monday night, in violation of a citywide curfew which began at 7pm, in response to riots and looting which rocked the city following the shooting of Daunte Wright by a police officer.
Daunte Wright, 20, was fatally shot during a traffic stop after resisting arrest for an outstanding warrant on a weapons charge. Brooklyn Center Police Chief Tim Gannon said the officer who shot Wright had intended to use a Taser and fired their gun instead. The female officer has been identified as Kim Potter, a 26 year veteran of the Brooklyn Center Police Department.
Reminder: A curfew remains in effect until 6 a.m. in Hennepin, Ramsey, Dakota and Anoka counties. The best way to stay out of harm's way is to stay home. Thank you to those Minnesotans that are helping keep their communities safe. #MNOSN #OperationSafetyNet pic.twitter.com/sFI2cxkYca
— Minnesota OSN (@MinnesotaOSN) April 13, 2021
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter announced the curfew which will remain in place through 6 AM Tuesday morning. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz also placed a 7 PM to 6 AM curfew on Anoka, Hennepin and Ramsey counties.
Crowds are launching bottles, fireworks, bricks and other projectiles at public safety officials at the Brooklyn Center Police Department. They are also trying to shine lasers into officers’ and troopers’ eyes. #MNOSN #OperationSafetyNet
— Minnesota OSN (@MinnesotaOSN) April 13, 2021
Heavy rain, freezing temperatures and a prediction of snow did not deter the protesters, many of who showed up dressed in all black. Police had preemptively installed concrete barriers around the precinct earlier in the day.
Fireworks launched in the air towards the station, police have been firing off flash bangs in response #BrooklynCenter #DaunteWright #BrooklynCenterPolice pic.twitter.com/LUBrTZAOYP
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) April 13, 2021
Police attempted to disperse the protesters around 7:30 PM but most of the protesters refused comply with multiple dispersal orders. Rioters were seen throwing objects and launching fireworks at police officers. Police responded by launching tear gas in multiple attempts to disperse the crowd.
Dollar Tree has been looted and set on fire here in Brooklyn Center #BrooklynCenter #BrooklynCenterMN #Minnesota pic.twitter.com/Oo9G32lZUn
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) April 13, 2021
The crowd refused to disperse and Police pushed forward into the streets to back the mob away from the precinct, arresting rioters along the way.
Boost Mobile has been looted as well, just down the street from the Brooklyn Center Police Department #BrooklynCenter #DaunteWright #BrooklynCenterMN pic.twitter.com/pG92jPi2EW
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) April 13, 2021
Rioters looted nearby businesses including Target and Boost Mobile. A Dollar Tree was also looted and set on fire.
Target has been looted on West Lake Street in Minneapolis. Police are at the scene now making arrests #Minneapolis #Looting #Minnesota pic.twitter.com/jF9HjMN9Xe
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) April 13, 2021
Many area businesses boarded up their windows in anticipation of a second night of riots. That did not deter the looters who removed the plywood and ransacked the stores.
Because officers were occupied with guarding the Brooklyn Center police building, stores nearby, like this Dollar Tree, was ransacked by looters. pic.twitter.com/dMPZ463O6Y
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) April 13, 2021
Julio Rosas, reporter for the Town Hall Media, observed some stores being protected by “civilians with firearms.”
Smoked poured out of the ransacked Dollar Tree while police move in to clear the crowd from the parking lot. pic.twitter.com/tM5yum8oOc
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) April 13, 2021
Gunshots were heard in various neighborhoods in the area.
Reports of shots just fired – unconfirmed – within seconds a caravan of police rushed on scene to the police line with an ambulance. pic.twitter.com/4mxvvpMYiE
— Rebecca Brannon (@RebsBrannon) April 13, 2021
A light National Guard presense was seen near stores that had been looted the previous evening but as of publishing had yet to attempt to quell the riots or looting.
thepostmillennial.com/brooklyn-center-and-minneapolis-rocked-by-second-night-of-riots-and-looting