Community Gathers to Honor Daunte Wright 5 Years After His Death

Family, friends and neighbors reflect on the tragic loss in Brooklyn Center

Apr. 12, 2026 at 3:07am

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An extreme close-up of a single red candle flame casting dramatic shadows on the ground, representing the solemn commemoration of Daunte Wright's life and loss in the Brooklyn Center community.The somber glow of memorial candles illuminates the community's ongoing grief over Daunte Wright's tragic death.Brooklyn Center Today

A prayer vigil was held in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota to commemorate the 5-year anniversary of Daunte Wright's death. Wright was shot and killed by a police officer during a traffic stop in 2021. His mother, best friend, and community members gathered at his memorial to share emotional memories, support each other, and honor Wright's life and legacy.

Why it matters

Daunte Wright's death occurred during the high-profile trial of Derek Chauvin, further intensifying tensions and sparking days of protests across the Twin Cities region. His tragic loss continues to deeply impact the Brooklyn Center community, where residents are still grappling with the ongoing pain and seeking ways to remember him.

The details

During the traffic stop, former Brooklyn Center police officer Kimberly Potter mistakenly drew her gun instead of her Taser and fatally shot Wright. Potter was later convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 16 months in custody before finishing her sentence on supervised release.

  • Daunte Wright was killed on April 11, 2021.
  • The 5-year anniversary vigil was held on April 12, 2026.

The players

Daunte Wright

A 20-year-old Black man who was shot and killed by a police officer during a traffic stop in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota in 2021.

Katie Wright

Daunte Wright's mother, who spoke emotionally at the 5-year anniversary vigil, describing it as her son's "Angelversary".

Emajay Driver

Daunte Wright's best friend, who shared memories of their close friendship and the ongoing impact of Wright's death on the community.

Kimberly Potter

The former Brooklyn Center police officer who was convicted of manslaughter for fatally shooting Daunte Wright during the traffic stop.

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What they’re saying

“It's hard, it's hard to get out of bed. It's hard to relive because throughout the year, you know, we think about Daunte every day of our lives, but we don't think about the tragedy, because we have to be able to continue to live, because the world doesn't stop. But on this day, I wish the world did stop, because it stopped for me five years ago.”

— Katie Wright, Daunte Wright's mother

“I mean that was really my best friend, like, somebody, I imagine being old, old man, gray hair, sitting on the porch, you know, drinking a beer or something, you know, we talking about our kids, you know, now I gotta look at his son over there, and he not here, he's looking at where his dad died at, that type of stuff.”

— Emajay Driver, Daunte Wright's best friend

The takeaway

Daunte Wright's tragic death five years ago continues to deeply impact the Brooklyn Center community, where residents gathered to honor his memory, support each other, and ensure his legacy of kindness and joy is not forgotten.