Daunte Wright’s girlfriend files a lawsuit against Kim Potter and the City of Brooklyn for physical and psychological injuries caused on the night of his murder

The girlfriend of Daunte Wright, a black man who was killed by a Minnesota ex-cop in the spring of 2021, has filed a lawsuit against the parties responsible for his death and her personal trauma. The passenger, who was sitting next to him in the car at the time of his untimely death, claims to have suffered from the police shots and is now demanding six-figure damages.

On Friday, July 29, a lawsuit document obtained by Atlanta Black Star was filed by Alayna Albrecht-Payton, listing the city of Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, and former officer Kim Potter as defendants in a case alleging guilt to be noted for the injuries caused by the former officer during the confrontation on April 11, 2021.

The 21-year-old is seeking compensation of at least $150,000 for pain and suffering related to post-traumatic stress disorder caused by witnessing the death of her loved one. She has also been diagnosed with post-acute stress disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder.

The complaint reveals that Albrecht-Payton had also broken her jaw, suffered a concussion, had her lip cracked and had blood coming out of her ears that night.

Albrecht-Payton made headlines in December 2021 after testifying against Potter at the former police officer’s criminal trial.

Although she claimed at trial that she mistook her taser for her firearm when she accidentally shot Wright, Potter was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to two years in prison. The City of Brooklyn Center also agreed to pay Wright’s family a $3.25 million settlement.

Albrecht-Payton’s attorney, Katie Bennett, writes in the complaint that Potter’s “negligent conduct” resulted in the young lady suffering both physical and psychological injuries. Bennett further claimed that because Potter was an employee of the Brooklyn Center Police Department at the time and used a “department-issued firearm” during the altercation, the city is responsible for the outcome caused by their reckless behavior.

“The defendant city of Brooklyn Center is acting on behalf of the tortious conduct of Potter, a city employee and agent who acted in the course of her employment when she shot and killed Daunte,” the lawsuit states.

Arguing that her client is “innocent” in the case and now has “life-changing psychological and emotional injuries.”

“Albrecht-Payton was an impeccable witness to this terribly traumatic event,” the attorney said.

The claim also said, “Alayna’s behavior during the stop indicated only an attempt to cooperate and de-escalate the situation.”

According to the allegation, Potter endangered Albrecht-Payton’s safety and one of her colleagues when she shot and killed Wright as he tried to evade arrest during a traffic stop in suburban Minneapolis.

After Wright was shot, his vehicle crashed into another SUV, and Albrecht-Payton “bore the brunt” of the collision. It also said that although she was injured, Albrecht-Payton “desperately” tried to save Wright’s life and watched him “gasp for air.”

In detail, the prosecution recalls how the responding officers held her at gunpoint and handcuffed her even before they gave Albrecht-Payton medical attention. In fact, Potter sat on the curb and cried.

“Crap! I just shot him. I grabbed the wrong damn gun,” she reportedly yelled. “I shot him!”

“Potter only worried about the consequences for himself,” the complaint reads. “She has drawn the attention of her colleagues and kept them from responding to the crisis she created. officer [Anthony] Luckey slapped her on the back as she lay face down on the grass and expressed concern that she was ‘going to jail’.”

The young woman was taken to North Memorial Health Hospital by paramedics.

The EMS responders note that according to the lawsuit, she was too distraught to articulate what happened. The claim reads: “Alayna was bleeding from her head and face. She had cuts on her face, swelling and pain from the accident.”

“She hit her head in the accident and suffered a concussion,” it said. “Alayna’s bottom lip was completely pierced. Blood flowed from both ears of Alayna… [she] suffered a fractured mandible – a broken jaw.”

She was treated and discharged that evening but went to Regions Hospital the next day because she continued to have “pain in the jaw”. She went to this hospital with her mother.

Albrecht-Payton had surgery on his jaw five days after the shooting. Doctors placed four 8mm screws in her jaw and wired her mouth, leaving it closed for two weeks, resulting in her being on a liquid diet for two weeks. After the wire was removed, she was allowed to eat only soft foods for another six weeks.

Surgeons repaired the wounds on her lip and ear with stitches.

Her jaw is now permanently crooked, her teeth are misaligned making her bites “mismatched,” and she is struggling to sleep comfortably, the lawsuit says.

Two weeks after the ordeal, from April 26 to April 29, she was hospitalized. Medical records claimed she was admitted due to a state of “excited delirium after her boyfriend was killed in front of her”.

“Their fear was overwhelming. She kept imagining people being shot and replayed Daunte’s death in her mind,” the file says.

Albrecht-Payton wants Potter and the City of Brooklyn Center to be held accountable for the negligence that disrupted her life and caused her “past and future physical and mental harm,” “loss of enjoyment of life,” “mental anguish,” “past and future… medical expenses”, “past and future pain, suffering and psychological distress” and other harms”.

The woman is seeking $50,000 each per count of negligence, negligent infliction of emotional distress and vicarious agents.