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Daunte Wright's family gathers in Minneapolis for funeral: Recap

Daunte Wright, 20, was shot dead by a Minnesota officer at a traffic stop.

Last Updated: April 23, 2021, 6:26 AM EDT

Family and friends of Daunte Wright, a 20-year-old Black man shot dead by a Minnesota police officer on April 11, gathered in Minneapolis on Thursday for his funeral.

Wright, who leaves behind a 2-year-old son, was shot and killed by a Brooklyn Center police officer during an afternoon traffic stop.

The officer claimed she mistook her gun for a Taser. The officer resigned from the department and on April 14 she was charged with second-degree manslaughter.

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Apr 22, 2021, 2:52 PM EDT

'My son should be burying me'

Daunte Wright's mother Katie Wright was overcome with emotion as she spoke at the funeral.

Katie Wright, the mother of Daunte Wright, reacts during his funeral at Shiloh Temple International Ministries in Minneapolis, April 22, 2021.
Octavio Jones/Reuters

"My son should be burying me," she said.

The casket of Daunte Wright rests in place before funeral services at Shiloh Temple International Ministries in Minneapolis, April 22, 2021.
John Minchillo/Pool via AP

"My son had a smile that was worth a million dollars," she said. "When he walked in the room he lit up the room. … He was loved by so many."

Daunte Wright's baby son was born prematurely, she said.

The "joy" his son brought to his life was "truly amazing," Katie Wright recalled. "He was so happy and so proud and he always said he couldn’t wait to make his son proud."

"He lived for him every single day and now he’s not gonna be able to see him."

Apr 22, 2021, 2:28 PM EDT

Crump: 'Justice for Daunte Wright'

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump led the mourners in a chant of: "Daunte Wright’s life mattered."

"Justice for Daunte Wright," he said.

"Our heart is broken with yours as we come to lay him to rest," Crump said to his parents. "But most importantly we celebrate his life and we define his legacy."

Daunte Wright's son, Daunte Wright Jr., is carried by grandmother Erica Whitaker, as she leads her daughter Chyna Whitaker, into the funeral services for Daunte Wright at Shiloh Temple International Ministries in Minneapolis, April 22, 2021.
John Minchillo/Pool via AP

"As we make the plea for justice in the court of public opinion that we pray [Minnesota] Attorney General Keith Ellison will allow us to get full justice in the court of law," he said.

Emmett Till’s family, Oscar Grant’s family and Breonna Taylor’s boyfriend came to the funeral to show their support, along with George Floyd’s family, Crump said.

Till, a 14-year-old Black boy from Chicago, was killed in Mississippi in 1955. Till was kidnapped, beaten and lynched after he was accused of whistling at a white woman. Two white men went on trial for his killing and were acquitted by an all-white jury.

Grant, a 22-year-old Black man, was shot dead by a transit officer at a California train station in 2009. The officer was convicted of involuntary manslaughter.

Taylor, a 26-year-old Black woman, was shot dead by police in her Louisville home as officers tried to execute a search warrant. No officers have been charged in connection to her death.

Before Crump spoke, an artist came to the podium and painted a portrait of Wright in realtime. When he was done, he was praised with a standing ovation.

Attorney Benjamin Crump and Governor of Minnesota Tim Walz with musician Keyon Harrold and artist Ange Hillz at the funeral of Daunte Wright in Minneapolis, April 22, 2021.
Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock

Apr 22, 2021, 1:53 PM EDT

George Floyd's family attends funeral

Relatives of George Floyd are attending the service.

One of George Floyd's brothers, Terrence Floyd, said he had an "emotional" conversation with Wright's mother.

Brandon Williams, nephew of George Floyd, displays the program for the funeral services of Daunte Wright at Shiloh Temple International Ministries in Minneapolis, April 22, 2021.
John Minchillo/Pool via AP

Members of George Floyd's family, from right, Philonise Floyd, Keeta Floyd, Rodney Floyd and Brandon Williams attend the funeral services of Daunte Wright at Shiloh Temple International Ministries in Minneapolis, April 22, 2021.
John Minchillo/Pool via AP

"Just 11 months, not even a year ago, our family was in the same situation and going day by day," Floyd said on ABC's "The View" Wednesday. "I basically just prayed with her and told -- just consoled her. I did to her what we wanted people to do for us."

PHOTO: George Floyd's family Philonise Floyd, Keeta Floyd, Brandon Williams, Rodney Floyd
at the funeral of Daunte Wright, in Minneapolis, April 22, 2021.
George Floyd's family Philonise Floyd, Keeta Floyd, Brandon Williams, Rodney Floyd at the funeral of Daunte Wright, in Minneapolis, April 22, 2021.
Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock

Apr 22, 2021, 1:41 PM EDT

Minnesota politicians arrive

Minnesota Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith are joining Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar at the funeral.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar speaks with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz before funeral services for Daunte Wright at Shiloh Temple International Ministries in Minneapolis, April 22, 2021.
John Minchillo/Pool via AP

"Nothing can bring Daunte back to his loved ones," Walz tweeted Thursday. "But we will continue working to enact meaningful, lasting police accountability and reform."