The Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Minnesota Timberwolves postponed games Monday after the police shooting of Daunte Wright on Sunday night.
“Out of respect for the tragic events that occurred yesterday at the Brooklyn Center and, following additional details in this evolving situation, the Minnesota Twins have decided it is in the best interest of our fans, staff, players and community not to play the game. today “the twins he said in a statement.
The twins had to play the Boston Red Sox. The Timberwolves were scheduled to play the Brooklyn Nets.
The decision to postpone the game was made by the twins after consulting Major League Baseball, as well as local and state officials.
Wright, a 20-year-old black man, died Sunday after a police officer shot him in the suburb of Brooklyn Center during a traffic stop. The Brooklyn Center police chief said the shooting was accidental, as the officer involved intended to fire a stun gun and not a pistol during a fight with Wright. Police were trying to arrest him with a pending order.
Tensions were already high in the city over the ongoing trial of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer accused of the murder of George Floyd.
Protests related to the Wright shooting are planned in the downtown Minneapolis area, where Target Field, home of the Twins, is located. Prior to the postponement announcement, both teams had taken the playing field to warm up, as the national anthem was already sounded.
NHL officials were debating whether the St. Louis game would be played. Louis Blues-Minnesota Wild Monday night.
The information from The Associated Press was used in this report.