Brooklyn Center mayor to ask AG Ellison’s office to lead case in Wright’s death

Brooklyn Center Mayor Mike Elliott said Tuesday afternoon that he’s asking for the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office to lead the prosecution in the death of 20-year-old Daunte Wright.

Elliott said he’s asking Gov. Tim Walz to reassign the case to Attorney General Keith Ellison’s office, "to ensure transparency and continue building trust in our community."

To ensure transparency and to continue building trust in our community, I’m asking the Governor @GovTimWalz to reassign Daunte’s case to the office of the attorney general @AGEllison.

— Mayor Mike Elliott (@mayor_elliott) April 13, 2021

The announcement came after Elliott announced the officer who shot Wright — Kim Potter — resigned earlier in the morning, as did Brooklyn Center Police Chief Tim Gannon.

Brooklyn Center officer in Daunte Wright shooting, police chief submit resignation

Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said Monday that the case would be sent to the Washington County Attorney’s Office for any charging decisions, in line with the new procedures involving deadly force cases adopted a year ago. Under that procedure, the attorney general can also be involved.

Sources told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS that the Washington County Sheriff’s Office plans to officially charge Potter on Wednesday.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is still finishing its investigation.