Yahoo Finance Sporting events postponed in response to 'tragic' US shooting
Professional basketball, baseball and ice hockey games have been postponed in the US because of safety concerns following a fatal police shooting in Minnesota and the potential for unrest in the area.
The NBA announced that Monday night's scheduled game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Brooklyn Nets was postponed "in light of the tragic events in the Minneapolis area".
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Major League Baseball's Twins and Boston Red Sox were scheduled to begin a four-game series on Monday afternoon at Target Field but it was postponed.
The Twins said their decision was made in consultation with Major League Baseball and state and local officials "out of respect for the tragic events that occurred yesterday".
The #MNTwins issued the following statement regarding the decision to postpone today's scheduled game against the Red Sox. pic.twitter.com/7U1S2P928j
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) April 12, 2021
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) April 12, 2021
Fatal shooting sparks violent protests
There was no word yet about rescheduling or the status of games set for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
The NHL'S Wild were supposed to host the St Louis Blues on Monday night, a game the team said was postponed "out of respect for the community." That game was rescheduled for May 12.
The shooting of 20-year-old black man Daunte Wright occurred on Sunday after a traffic stop in Brooklyn Center, a suburb adjacent to Minneapolis.
The death sparked violent protests, with officers in riot gear clashing with demonstrators into Monday morning.
Police said the shooting was accidental, as the officer involved intended to fire a taser and not a handgun during a struggle with Wright.
Police were trying to arrest him on an outstanding warrant.
The metropolitan area already has been on edge because of the ongoing trial of the first of four police officers charged in George Floyd's death last May.
Bodycam footage from the incident was released to the public showing an officer attempting to handcuff Wright outside his vehicle before he quickly jumped back inside his car.
A female officer is then heard yelling “Taser! Taser! Taser!” prior to discharging her weapon while Wright is starting to drive away. The same officer is then heard saying, “Oh s***, I just shot him.”
The officer, who has not been identified, has been placed on administrative leave.
The fatal shooting has drawn widespread outrage in America, with several prominent NFL stars among those to speak out on social media.
If you don’t know the difference between a taser and a gun in your hand then you should not be a police officer.
— Doug Baldwin Jr 🌹 (@DougBaldwinJr) April 12, 2021
You can accidentally forget to send an email. You can accidentally burn food or mess up an order. You can accidentally be late to a meeting. You can accidentally forget a meeting. All of that to say you can’t accidentally shoot someone with a gun thinking you had your damn taser.
— Torrey Smith (@TorreySmithWR) April 12, 2021
Police officers fall into the category of professions with little to no room for error.
You cannot repeatedly announce a taser, yet *accidentally* draw and discharge your firearm. That is inexcusable, impermissible and lethal.
Justice for #DaunteWright— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) April 12, 2021
When you’re obsessed with power you have no conscience.
— Marcus Lattimore (@MarcusLattimore) April 12, 2021
with Yahoo Sport staff
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