Minnesota Police Officer Shoots 20-Year-Old Black Man Dead Following Traffic Stop Incident

A Minnesota police officer fatally shot a man at a traffic stop Sunday afternoon, authorities said.

Officers were attempting to make a traffic stop near the 6300 block of Orchard Ave. around 2 p.m. when they noticed that the driver, identified as 20-year-old Black man Daunte Wright, had an outstanding warrant, Brooklyn Center Police Department said in a statement as per ABC News.

"At one point as officers were attempting to take the driver into custody, the driver re-entered the vehicle," Brooklyn Center Police Chief Tim Gannon told ABC News. "One officer discharged their firearm, striking the driver."

Although they initiated emergency life-saving measures, the man died at the scene. The car then traveled several blocks before colliding with another vehicle, the police said.

An injured female passenger in the car was transported to North Memorial Hospital. Meanwhile, the passengers inside the vehicle that had been stuck were safe. Another report said a police officer had also been transported to the hospital after sustaining injuries.

After the shooting, people gathered at the scene, holding "Black Lives Matter" signs. The demonstrators then moved to block Humboldt Avenue just south of Brooklyn Center Police Headquarters, around 9:30 p.m.

The victim's mother, Katie Wright, told the media that while being pulled over to get insurance information for the vehicle, which used to be her car, Daunte had called her.

"A minute later, I called and his girlfriend answered, who was the passenger in the car, and said that he'd been shot and she put it on the driver's side, and he was laying there lifeless," Katie told the outlet.

The incident is currently being investigated by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA). "BCA agents and crime scene personnel are en route to an officer involved shooting incident in Brooklyn Center," BCA's tweet read.

The officers are believed to have worn body cams and both body cameras and dash cameras were activated when the shooting occurred, Brooklyn Center police said.

Brooklyn Center Mayor Mike Elliot tweeted about the incident Sunday night, calling it "tragic."

The Mayor also asked the protesters to remain peaceful and officers not to use force while dealing with them.