Daunte Wright was wanted for weapon possession charge, skipped court date before being shot by police

Daunte Wright, a black man who was shot by police in a suburb of Minneapolis on Sunday, was wanted by police on weapons-related charges before his fatal encounter with law enforcement, documents show.

Wright was wanted for carrying a pistol in a public place without a permit and for fleeing police, a gross misdemeanor and a misdemeanor respectively.

34 states allow residents to open carry handguns without being required to have a permit, while 18 allow for concealed carry. Minnesota requires residents to have a permit in order to carry a firearm with them, whether it is concealed or not.

Wright was pulled over at a traffic stop in Brooklyn Centre, a suburb of Minneapolis, in the afternoon on Sunday, during which police realized he had an outstanding warrant. When officers attempted to arrest Wright, he returned to his vehicle where he was shot by an officer. Wright then drove several blocks before his car crashed and he was found dead.

Rioting and looting broke out that evening across Minneapolis, reminiscent of the riots which broke out in the city in 2020 following the death of George Floyd while in police custody.

Police are investigating the shooting and are yet to release a definitive statement on the matter.