Kim Potter, ex-Minnesota officer who fatally shot Daunte Wright, released from prison

The former Minnesota police officer who claimed she mistook her handgun for a Taser when she fatally shot Daunte Wright during a traffic stop was released from prison Monday.

Kim Potter, who was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to two years in prison over the April 2021 shooting, was released from the Minnesota Correctional Facility – Shakopee at 4 a.m. Monday, according to a statement from the Minnesota Department of Corrections.

Spokesperson Andy Skoogman said the early morning release was ordered after department analysts learned of "threatening comments directed at her and the potential for violent protests" outside the facility.

“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,” Skoogman said

Skoogman told USA TODAY no protesters or family members were there when Potter was released. She served 16 months in prison and will serve the remainder of her sentence on supervised release in Wisconsin until Dec. 21, according to the department.

Wright's mother says she was 'dreading' Potter's release

Wright's family members, their attorneys and civil rights leaders criticized Potter's sentence at the time. Wright's mother told CNN she was "dreading" Potter's release, but Potter not being able to serve as a police officer again has given her "a sense of peace."

“Some say I should forgive to be at peace, but how can I? I am so angry. She is going to be able to watch her kids have kids and be able to touch them,” Katie Wright told the outlet.

What happened during the shooting?

Potter and another officer pulled Wright over for having a blinker on in the wrong turn lane, expired tags and an air freshener hanging from his rearview mirror. The officers learned Wright had an unrelated warrant, there was a struggle as they tried to detain him, and Potter shot him while yelling "Taser."

The shooting came as former police officer Derek Chauvin was on trial in Minneapolis for the 2020 murder of George Floyd, sparking days of protests in nearby Brooklyn Center.

Judge said Potter made 'tragic mistake'; Potter apologized during sentencing

Potter faced a maximum sentence of 15 years. Judge Regina Chu referenced Chauvin, who was sentenced to 22½ years in prison for Floyd's murder, as she explained why she was handing down a lighter sentence.

"This is not a cop found guilty of murder for using his knee to pin down a person for 9½ minutes as he gasped for air," Chu said.

Potter was "a cop who made a tragic mistake," she said.

Potter, who had been with the police department for 26 years, apologized to Wright's family during sentencing.

"Katie, I understand a mother’s love, and I am sorry I broke your heart," she said. "My heart is broken for all of you."

Dig deeper

• Myles Cosgrove: Louisville officer who killed Breonna Taylor, hired by Kentucky sheriff's office

• Derek Chauvin: Ex-officer loses appeal for a new trial in the murder of George Floyd

• How could a gun be mistaken for a Taser?: There have been at least 16 incidents of 'weapon confusion' since 2001

Contributing: Grace Hauck

Contact Breaking News Reporter N'dea Yancey-Bragg at nyanceybra@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter @NdeaYanceyBragg

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kim Potter, ex-Minnesota officer who killed Daunte Wright, released