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The Minnesota cop accused of fatally shooting Daunte Wright was trained to place her Glock and Taser — which vary drastically in weight — on opposite sides of her holster, raising critical questions over the police killing.

Brooklyn Center Police Chief Tim Gannon explained the placement during a press conference Monday, as he called Wright’s shooting death the result of an “accidental discharge.”

“For informational purposes, we train with our handguns on our dominant side and our Taser on our weak side,” Gannon told reporters at a press conference.

“If you’re right-handed, you carry your firearm on your right side and you carry your Taser on the left. This is done purposefully, and it’s trained.”

Police body camera footage released during the briefing shows the officer who shot Wright holding her weapon in her right hand — as she warns Wright, “I’ll tase you! I’ll tase you! Taser! Taser! Taser!” before striking him with a single shot.


  A police officer demonstrates the handling of a Taser on January 15, 2021. Sascha Schuermann/Getty Images A police officer demonstrates the handling of a Taser on January 15, 2021. Sascha Schuermann/Getty Images

Officers are also trained to announce use of a Taser to notify their partners and those who may be subjected to it, Gannon said.

“As I watched the video and listen to the officer’s commands,” Gannon said, “it is my belief that the officer had the intention to deploy their Taser, but instead shot Mr. Wright with a single bullet.”

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Brooklyn Center Police Chief Tim Gannon looks on as the video of the killing of 20-year-old Daunte Wright is played during a press conference at the Brooklyn Center police headquarters on April 12, 2021 in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota.
Brooklyn Center Police Chief Tim Gannon looks on as the video of the killing of 20-year-old Daunte Wright is played during a press conference at the Brooklyn Center police headquarters on April 12, 2021 in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. Stephen Maturen/Getty Images
Brooklyn Center Police Chief Tim Gannon takes questions during a press conference about the death of 20-year-old Daunte Wright
Brooklyn Center Police Chief Tim Gannon takes questions during a press conference about the death of 20-year-old Daunte Wright.Stephen Maturen/Getty Images
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Tim Gannon, Brooklyn Center Police Chief speaks at the Brooklyn Center Police Station after a police officer shot and killed a Black man in Brooklyn Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota on April 12, 2021.
Tim Gannon, Brooklyn Center Police Chief, speaks at the Brooklyn Center Police Station after a police officer shot and killed a Black man in Brooklyn Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota on April 12, 2021.KEREM YUCEL/AFP via Getty Images
Brooklyn Center Police Chief Tim Gannon looks on as the video of the killing of 20-year-old Daunte Wright is played during a press conference at the Brooklyn Center police headquarters on April 12, 2021 in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota.
Brooklyn Center Police Chief Tim Gannon looks on as the video of the killing of 20-year-old Daunte Wright is played during a press conference at the Brooklyn Center police headquarters on April 12, 2021 in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. Stephen Maturen/Getty Images
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The two devices, however, differ greatly in weight.

For instance, a fully loaded Glock handgun — which is typically carried by officers — weighs in excess of 34 ounces, according to the gunmaker’s home page.

By comparison, a Taser stun gun weighs 8 ounces, the company’s site said.


  Body camera footage showing the Minneapolis police shooting of Daunte Wright was released during a news conference Monday, April 12, 2021.
 Body camera footage showing the Minneapolis police shooting of Daunte Wright was released during a news conference Monday, April 12, 2021.

The officer involved in the shooting has only been identified as a “senior” member of the department, and it is not known if she is right- or left-handed.

She has been placed on administrative leave.

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