Kim Potter Released From Prison After Serving 16 Months for Killing of Daunte Wright

Former police officer Kim Potter was released from prison early Monday morning after serving 16 months of her two-year sentence for the 2021 killing of Daunte Wright.

The Minnesota Department of Corrections said Potter, a white former officer for a suburban Minneapolis department, was released at 4 a.m. local time on Monday. Potter fatally shot Wright, a 20-year-old Black man, during a traffic stop in April 2021.

The department had confirmed on Friday that Potter would be released on Monday, but declined to say what time out of security concerns.

“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,” said a spokesperson for the Minnesota Department of Corrections.

The shooting happened during the trial of Derek Chauvin, the officer who killed George Floyd in 2020. Potter’s release comes as the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin enters its third week. Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in Floyd’s death.

The shooting of Daunte Wright sparked protests and outrage across the country, with many calling for justice for Wright and an end to police brutality. Potter’s release is likely to be met with mixed reactions, as many are still seeking justice for Wright and other victims of police brutality.