Officer Kim Potter "betrayed a 20-year-old kid" when she fatally shot Daunte Wright during traffic stop, prosecutor says

The suburban Minneapolis police officer who killed Daunte Wright violated her training and "betrayed a 20-year-old kid" when she shot him with a handgun instead of a Taser during a traffic stop, a prosecutor told jurors Wednesday.

Prosecutor Erin Eldridge began her opening statement at former Brooklyn Center Officer Kim Potter's manslaughter trial by telling jurors that a police officer's fundamental duty is to protect the sanctity of life. She also said Potter had received extensive training, including in risks of firing the wrong weapon.

"This is exactly what she had been trained for years to prevent," Eldridge said. "But on April 11, she betrayed her badge and she failed Daunte Wright."