Brooklyn Center Looting, Rioting Sees Several Businesses ‘Completely Destroyed’

Looting and rioting erupted in Minnesota’s Brooklyn Center area after an officer shot a man during a traffic stop in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, who then crashed his vehicle and died.

The man, identified as 20-year-old Daunte Wright, died after he was pulled over for an alleged traffic violation shortly before 2 p.m. on Sunday.

Several businesses in the area have been “completely destroyed,” while rioters clashed with police, according to videos shared on social media.

The National Guard has been activated and around 20 businesses have reportedly broken into in the Brooklyn Park area, John Harrington, Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, said at a press briefing.

A reporter for Minnesota’s Star Tribune, Liz Sawyer, tweeted: “Several businesses around the Brooklyn Center Walmart are completely destroyed. Police rolled up and made some arrests as young men ran from buildings carrying stolen goods. Foot Locker, T Mobile, and a New York men’s clothing store all completely destroyed.”

A writer and editor for the Daily Wire, Harry Khachatrian, shared a video of a Nike store being looted. “Apparently police officers shot someone in Minneapolis, we don’t know all the details yet, but people are already looting Nikes. Looks about right,” Khachatrian tweeted. The video, which was first posted by user @zerosum24, has over 235,000 views since it was first shared.

A reporter for The Blaze, Elijah Schaffer, tweeted: “BREAKING: looting has begun in Minneapolis at a @littlecaesars. Looting also taking place at a foot locker and several other businesses. Because #blacklivesmatter,” shared footage of the scene. The video, which was also first posted by @zerosum24, has had over 139,000 views since it was first posted.

A video journalist for the Star Tribune, Mark Vancleave, shared a video of the area near Footlocker and Walmart, tweeting: “Total chaos at Brooklyn Center Walmart and shopping mall.” The video has had more than 73,000 views since it was first posted.

Several videos shared by Rebecca Brannon, a Minnesota-based photojournalist, captured looting at different stores including Footlocker, Family Dollar and Sally Beauty.

Brannon tweeted: “Large group of looters has now resumed back at O’Reilly’s auto store. A female looters says, ‘I need this! I need this!,'” sharing a video of the scene which has had over 14,000 views since it was first posted.

Sharing footage of a Brooklyn Center Holiday gas station being looted, Brannon tweeted: “After a police car left, looting resumed back inside the Holiday gas station. Someone else abandoned their car which was looted too. People continue to drive around erratically in the streets and go from location to location.”

Scenes of rioting were also widely shared on social media. According to Commissioner Harrington, rocks and other objects were thrown at the Brooklyn Center Police Department. The front door of the Brooklyn Park Police Department, which is located next to Brooklyn Center, was struck by gunfire, according to police.

The Star Tribune‘s Sawyer shared several videos of clashes between the police and protesters. In a post of one video, she tweeted ” ‘Are we at war?!’ A protester yells as flash bang grenades explode around us. ‘Feels like we at war.’

“*Tear gas outside Brooklyn Center police station **” Sawyer tweeted in another video capturing the chaotic scenes.

“Police have pushed large swath of crowd back across the street, into residential area with tear gas, flash bangs and rubber bullets. This came moments after a few people threw things at police line and organizers yelled at them to stop,” Sawyer tweeted, sharing another video.

A reporter for Minnesota Public Radio News, Tim Nelson, shared a video of police clearing crowds. “Police have set off flash bangs and chemical munitions to clear the crowd out of Brooklyn Center police department parking lot. @MPRnews,” he tweeted. The video has had over 205,000 views.

Another reporter for Minnesota Public Radio News, Nina Moini, tweeted another video of the scene. “Police deployed more irritants after I saw people in the crowd throwing objects in their direction. That’s what I saw from my vantage point. Appeared to thin the crowd. Some are using milk to treat the burning in their throats and eyes,” Moini wrote.

Another reporter for the Star Tribune, Kim Hyatt, shared a video of a protest from earlier in the day. “Cops pushed the line back and retreated the two squad cars. I heard a few non lethal rounds fired,” she tweeted.

Brooklyn Center Mayor Mike Elliott has imposed a curfew on the Minnesota city until 6 a.m. on Monday, following the protests and unrest.

The mayor tweeted on Monday morning: “We are continuing to monitor the situation. As Mayor, I am imposing a curfew in the City Of Brooklyn Center.

“The curfew will be in place until 6am on Monday April 12, 2021. We want to make sure everyone is safe. Please be safe and please go home,” the mayor tweeted.