Daunte Wright, killed by police, was known as a skinny, smiling young man who loved making people laugh and who, after becoming a father in his teens, relished the role of doting young dad, according to his family and friends.
BBC News
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image caption I don t care what nobody got to say about him. He was loved.
A few years ago, high school mentor Jonathan Mason was asked by a young black pupil what he should do if he was ever pulled over by police. If they pull you over, make sure your hands are on the top of the steering wheel, don t reach for anything, Mr Mason, speaking to the Associated Press, recalls telling the teenager.
The boy, already jaded from seeing multiple cases of police brutality on the news, replied: Man, why we gotta do all that just for people not to kill us?
2021/04/15 12:17 FILE - This photo provided by Ben Crump Law, PLLC. shows Daunte Wright and his son, Daunte Jr., at his first birthday party. Wright, 20, was killed du. FILE - This photo provided by Ben Crump Law, PLLC. shows Daunte Wright and his son, Daunte Jr., at his first birthday party. Wright, 20, was killed during a traffic stop by a white suburban Minneapolis police officer on Sunday, April 11, 2021. (Ben Crump Law, PLLC. via AP) This photo provided by Ben Crump Law, PLLC. shows Daunte Wright and his son Daunte Jr., at his first birthday party. A white police officer who fatall.
His aunt, Naisha Wright, said he was âa lovable young manâ.
âHis smile, oh Lord, the most beautiful smile,â she said.
An older cousin, Mario Greer, said he and Wright loved seeing each other on holidays, especially on the Fourth of July, when they liked to shoot off Roman candles together.
Wright attended three different high schools, including Edison high school in Minneapolis, where he was voted âclass clownâ as a freshman.
Jonathan Mason, who worked as a youth development specialist and mentor at the school, said Wright was a gregarious, popular student who had many friends.
âHe was a charismatic kid. He would joke with you, and he was so witty,â Mason said. âHe was one of those kids that everybody looked up to.â
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