Jury Selection to Begin in Trial of Officer Who Fatally Shot Daunte Wright

The case against Kim Potter — the former Minneapolis police officer who killed 20-year-old Daunte Wright at an April traffic stop — is moving forward.

As reported by People on Tuesday, jury selection in the trial — in which Potter had pleaded not guilty to first- and second-degree manslaughter — had begun that day.

That same day, CNN reported that the now-viral officer-worn body camera footage — which shows Potter fatally shooting Wright after it appears she mistook her gun for a Taser — will likely play a central role in the case.

On April 11, officers, including Potter, initially pulled Wright over for having an expired registration tag on his car but later determined that he had an outstanding gross misdemeanor warrant.

As seen in the footage, Wright, standing by the open driver’s-side door, wrestles free of his handcuffs as they are being applied. Wright then jumps back into his car and appears to try to drive off.

Potter can be heard yelling “Taser” repeatedly before she shoots Wright. After firing her handgun, she yells, “Holy ----! I just shot him!”

The vehicle then travels for several blocks before crashing into another car. Wright later died at the scene.

Following the incident, Potter retired from the force and was eventually arrested.

In filing the original second-degree manslaughter charge, Imran Ali, assistant criminal division chief in the Washington County Attorney’s Office, alleges that Potter “abrogated her responsibility to protect the public when she used her firearm rather than her Taser.”

“Her action caused the unlawful killing of Mr. Wright and she must be held accountable,” Ali added.

Per the criminal complaint, Potter’s Taser was reportedly on her left side and distinguishable by its yellow color with a black grip. Meanwhile, her Glock 9mm handgun was reportedly holstered on the right side of her duty belt.

Per People, prosecutors say they plan to show how Potter knew the difference between her Taser and her gun.

Though Potter was originally charged with second-degree manslaughter in April, prosecutors added a first-degree manslaughter charge in September.