The tragic death of Daunte Wright has triggered a ripple of fresh heartache across America.
On Sunday, April 11, the 20-year-old father-of-one was fatally shot by police. The reason he was stopped? Officers took issue with an air freshener hanging from his car's rearview mirror.
Since 2015, US cops have fatally shot at least 135 unarmed Black men and women across the country, according to the NPR. Desperate for change, people are once again taking to the streets in response to Wright's death, demanding an end to police brutality – a rallying cry that has not stopped since the murder of George Floyd in May last year.
Here, VT remembers Black men, women and minors who have lost their lives at the hands of US police officers after being remanded for the most arbitrary of reasons; from walking home to a child playing with his toy.
This list is, of course, not conclusive.
Daunte Wright (October 27, 2000 - April 11, 2021)
Why was he stopped by police? Daunte Wright, 20, was pulled over because he had air fresheners hanging from the rearview mirror in his car and an expired registration on the vehicle.
What happened next? Police officer, Kim Potter, discovered that a "gross misdemeanour warrant" for Wright's arrest had previously been issued because he had smoked one joint as marijuana as a minor.
Events escalated and shots rang out. Police officials said the shooting was an accident, claiming that Potter had intended to use a taser but instead fired a handgun.
Wright leaves behind his two-year-old son, Daunte Jr.
What has happened to the police officer involved? Potter has resigned from the force and was arrested on a charge of second-degree manslaughter on April 14. The 48-year-old has since been released on a $100,000 bail as the case continues to unfold. Following the response to Wright's death, Potter has fled her home amid safety concerns.
Rayshard Brooks (January 31, 1993 - June 12, 2020)
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Cause of death: Fatally shot by Atlanta Police Department officer
Why was he stopped by police? Rayshard Brooks, 27, was approached by police after being found asleep in a car that was blocking a Wendy's drive-through lane.
What happened next? Police officer, Garrett Rolfe, conducted a breathalyzer exam, which found that Brooks' blood-alcohol level was above the legal limit for driving. Rolfe and fellow officer Devin Brosnan started handcuffing Brooks, who, in response, grabbed Brosnan's taser and tried to run away.
Rolfe reacted by firing his gun three times at Brooks, hitting him twice from behind. He died after surgery.
Brooks leaves behind his wife, Tomika Miller, and four children.
What has happened to the police officers involved? The mayor of Atlanta and other politicians dubbed the use of lethal force by police as unjustified in this case. Rolfe has been charged with felony murder and ten other offences, and Brosnan with aggravated assault and two counts of violation of oath.
George Floyd (October 14, 1973 - May 25, 2020)
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Cause of death: Asphyxiation by Minneapolis Police Department officer
Why was he stopped by police? George Floyd, 46, was stopped on suspicion of using a counterfeit $20 bill.
What happened next? During the arrest, white police officer, Derek Chauvin, knelt on Floyd's neck for nine minutes and 29 seconds, despite him asserting several times that he was unable to breathe. His death sparked the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Floyd leaves behind five children and two grandchildren.
What has happened to the police officers involved? The trial is now underway of former police officer Chauvin on charges including second-degree murder. The former law enforcement official has declined to testify in court. Three other officers who were involved – J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane, Tou Thao – also face charges of aiding and abetting Chauvin.
Breonna Taylor (June 5, 1993 - March 13, 2020)
Location: Louisville, Kentucky
Cause of death: Fatally shot by Louisville Metro Police officers
Why was she stopped by police? Breonna Taylor, 26, was asleep at home in bed when police stormed her house and opened fire.
What happened? Plainclothes officers – executing a search warrant into drug dealing operations – forced their way into her home where she was in bed with her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker. She had no prior criminal record, and no drugs were found in her apartment.
Walker fired a shot from his licensed gun, thinking intruders has broken in. Police retaliated by firing 32 shots, six of which hit Taylor.
As part of a $12 million financial settlement that was won by Taylor's family, a number of police reforms have been rolled out in Louisville, including that all search warrants must now be approved by a senior officer.
Taylor leaves behind her boyfriend, Walker, who was unhurt in the incident.
What has happened to the police officers involved? Officer Brett Hankison was charged, not with Taylor's death, but with three counts of "wanton endangerment" for firing into a neighbour's apartment in Louisville. Two other police officers – Jonathan Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove – have not been charged.
Elijah McClain (February 25, 1996 - August 30, 2019)
Location: Aurora, Colorado
Cause of death: Placed into a chokehold by Aurora Police Officers and sedated by Aurora Paramedics
Why was he stopped by police? Elijah McClain, 23, was stopped by police for wearing a ski mask.
What happened next? As he walked home from a convenience store, police said that a 911 caller had reported a "suspicious person" in a ski mask, which his family later explained was worn because McClain "had anemia and would sometimes get cold".
McClain – who had never committed any kind of crime – was then said to have "resisted arrest". He was tackled to the ground for 15 minutes, and put into a carotid hold. First responders injected him with ketamine to sedate him. McClain had a heart attack, and died days after he was declared brain dead.
McClain leaves behind his mother and five siblings.
What has happened to the police officers involved? In his November 2020 report, Adams County District Attorney Dave Young said he would not charge officers, Woodyard, Rosenblatt and Roedema, who have since left the force.
Atatiana Jefferson (November 28, 1990 - October 12, 2019)
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Cause of death: Fatally shot by Fort Worth Police Officer
Why was she stopped by police? Atatiana Jefferson, 28, was shot to death in her home after a neighbour called a non-emergency number to report that Jefferson's front door had been left open.
What happened next? Police body camera footage showed the officers walking outside with flashlights before yelling, "Put your hands up! Show me your hands!" Officer Aaron Dean then discharged a weapon through a window.
Jefferson leaves behind her mother, whom she cared for, and a nephew.
What has happened to the police officers involved? Officer Aaron Dean resigned from the Fort Worth Police Department, and was arrested on a murder charge. In December of 2019, he was indicted for murder.
Stephon Clark (August 10, 1995 - March 18, 2018)
Location: Sacramento, California
Cause of death: Fatally shot by Sacramento Police Officers
Why was he stopped by police? Stephon Clark, 22, was stopped by police investigating an unrelated nearby break-in.
What happened? Officers shot him at least seven times in his grandmother's garden, claiming they feared for their lives. According to the cops, they thought he had a weapon. However, the only item he was carrying was his mobile phone.
Clark is survived by his girlfriend Salena Manni, and two children.
What has happened to the police officers involved? In March of 2019, authorities announced that the two officers involved would not be facing criminal prosecution as the officers had allegedly feared for their lives, believing that Clark was in possession of a gun.
Botham Jean (September 29, 1991 - September 6, 2018)
Location: Dallas, Texas
Cause of death: Fatally shot by Dallas police officer
Why was he stopped by police? An off-duty cop entered the wrong apartment thinking it was her own and shot Botham Jean, 26, thinking he was an intruder.
What happened? Guyger had entered his apartment, claiming that she thought it was hers and that he was a dangerous intruder. At the time, he was sitting on his sofa at home, eating ice cream in his own home.
She then proceeded to fatally shoot Jean, before calling law enforcement.
Jean is survived by his parents and siblings.
What has happened to the police officers involved? Guyger was found guilty of murder and sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Philando Castile (July 16, 1983 - July 6, 2016)
Location: Falcon Heights, Minnesota
Cause of death: Fatally shot by St. Anthony Police Officer
Why was he stopped by police? Philando Castile, 32, was remanded during a routine traffic stop.
What happened? During a 62-second encounter with officer Jeronimo Yanez, Castile repeatedly insisted that he was not reaching for his registered handgun. At the time, his girlfriend and four-year-old daughter were also in the vehicle. Castile died after the police officer fired seven shots.
Castile is survived by his girlfriend Diamond Reynolds, and his daughter.
What has happened to the police officers involved? Yanez was charged with second-degree manslaughter and two counts of dangerous discharge of a firearm. He was acquitted of all charges in 2017, but was later fired by the City of Saint Anthony.
Alton Sterling (June 14, 1979 - July 5, 2016)
Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Cause of death: Fatally shot by Baton Rouge Police Officers
Why was he stopped by police? Cops approached Alton Sterling, 37, in a case of mistaken identity
What happened? After receiving reports that a man – who was not Sterling– had been making threats outside a convenience store, officers approached Sterling despite the owner of the store insisting that Sterling was "not the one causing trouble".
Sterling was shot while trying to reach for his handgun as officers held down his arms. He was then shot at close range by Baton Rouge Police Department officers, Howie Lake II and Blane Salamoni. After he was killed, the same convenience store owner clarified that Sterling had started carrying a gun just several days before the incident as there had been robberies in the area.
Sterling leaves behind five children.
What has happened to the police officers involved? In March of 2018, Lousiana's attorney general, Jeff Landry, announced that they would not be bringing charges against the officers, claiming that they had acted in a "reasonable and justifiable manner".
Walter Scott (February 9, 1965 - April 4, 2015)
Location: North Charleston, South Carolina
Cause of death: Fatally shot by North Charleston Police Officer
Why was he stopped by police? Walter Scott, 50, was stopped by police over a non-functioning brake light.
What happened? After he was approached by police, Scott tried to flee the scene on foot. Video footage shows that a North Charleston police officer responded by firing eight rounds.
Scott leaves behind four children.
What happened to the officer involved? In December of 2017, Slager was sentenced to 20 years in prison for second-degree murder.
Eric Garner (September 15, 1970 - July 17, 2014)
Location: Staten Island, New York
Cause of death: Placed in a chokehold by New York City Police Officer
Why was he stopped by police? Eric Garner, 44, was approached on suspicion of selling single cigarettes from packs without tax stamps.
What happened? After he was approached by New York City Police Officer, Daniel Pantaleo, Garner said he was tired of being harassed and that he was not selling cigarettes. Pantaleo reacted by putting him in a prohibited chokehold while wrestling him to the ground.
As he was pinned down by officers, Garner repeated the words "I can't breathe" 11 times while lying face down. He lost consciousness and was pronounced dead in hospital. The phrase, "I can't breathe" swiftly became a slogan associated with the Black Lives Matter movement.
Garner leaves behind six children, and three grandchildren.
What happened to the officer involved? In 2019, the US Department of Justice declined to bring criminal charges against Pantaleo under federal civil rights laws.
Michael Brown (May 20, 1996 - August 9, 2014)
Location: Ferguson, Missouri
Cause of death: Fatally shot by Ferguson Police Officer
Why was he stopped by police? Michael Brown, 18, was shot after walking home with a friend.
What happened? A police officer confronted Brown and his friend, and events quickly escalated. The officer, Darren Wilson, shot and killed Brown. He claimed to have acted in self-defence.
Brown leaves behind his parents and siblings.
What happened to the officer involved? No charges were brought against Wilson, who later resigned from the Ferguson Police Department.
Tamir Rice (June 15, 2002 - November 22, 2014)
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Cause of death: Fatally shot by Cleveland Police Officer
Why was he stopped by police? Tamir Rice, 12, was shot by police for playing with a toy gun in a park
What happened? Within two seconds of arriving at the park, Officer Timothy Loehmann, had fatally shot Rice. It took four minutes for officers to administer first aid. Rice passed away in hospital the following day.
Rice leaves behind his parents and siblings.
What happened to the officer involved? Loehmann and Officer Frank Garmbark – who was also at the scene – were not indicted. Garmbark was suspended for 10 days. Loehmann was later fired for discrepancies on his job application.
Donate to Black Lives Matter, here.
(Feature Image Credit: Alamy)