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Breonna Taylor killing: grand jury to announce decision on police charges Breonna Taylor killing: Kentucky grand jury indicts one officer on criminal charges
(about 2 hours later)
Death of Taylor, who was killed in March by officers serving ‘no-knock warrant’, has become rallying cry against police brutality and racism Police officer Brett Hankison indicted on three charges of wanton endangerment
A grand jury in Kentucky is expected to announce on Wednesday afternoon whether there will be criminal charges against police officers involved in the killing of Breonna Taylor whose case has become a rallying cry against police brutality and racism across the US and the world. Anger erupted on Wednesday afternoon when it was announced that only one police officer would face criminal charges out of three involved in the shooting death of Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky, earlier this year.
Taylor, a 26-year-old emergency room technician, was killed on 13 March by police in Louisville serving a so-called “no-knock warrant” that allowed them to charge into her apartment without warning as part of an investigation into an ex-boyfriend. Crowds in Louisville, where Taylor was shot at home in March, began marching and many cried moments after the announcement by a judge that a grand jury had decided to indict only Brett Hankison, on three charges of wanton endangerment.
Those are regarded as relatively lowly charges. They were related to the fact that Hankison fired his gun while he was still outside Taylor’s apartment and therefore endangered people living in other nearby apartments.
Hankison was not charged for shooting Taylor, and the other two officers present, who also fired multiple times at Taylor in her apartment, were not charged.
The lawyer Ben Crump said on behalf of Taylor’s family that the grand jury’s decision was “outrageous and offensive”.
Civil rights leader Al Sharpton said the charges were “grossly insufficient”, in an interview on MSNBC.
The other two officers with Hankison on the night the police broke into Taylor’s apartment as part of an investigation, Jonathan Mattingly and Miles Cosgrove, fired their weapons inside Taylor’s apartment after her boyfriend fired one shot at the officers as they entered.
Louisville had been on edge earlier as it waited for the grand jury’s conclusions on whether there would be charges against the three police officers involved in the killing.
Taylor’s case has become a rallying cry against police brutality and racism across the US and the world.
Taylor, a 26-year-old emergency room technician, who was Black, was killed on 13 March by white police officers in Louisville serving a so-called “no-knock warrant” that allowed them to charge into her apartment without warning as part of an investigation into an ex-boyfriend.
Taylor was at her apartment with her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, and asleep when police barged in. Walker, who said officers did not announce themselves, fired a single shot from his gun, believing the police were intruders. One officer was shot in the leg and police fired in return.Taylor was at her apartment with her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, and asleep when police barged in. Walker, who said officers did not announce themselves, fired a single shot from his gun, believing the police were intruders. One officer was shot in the leg and police fired in return.
The attorney general of Kentucky, Daniel Cameron, is expected to announce the result of an investigation into the killing, in a press conference in the state capital, Frankfort, on Wednesday afternoon. The attorney general of Kentucky, Daniel Cameron said in a press conference in the state capital, Frankfort, on Wednesday afternoon “there is no doubt this is a gut-wrenching” outcome of the case for many.
That event will be held shortly after the Jefferson County grand jury presents its report on the case to circuit judge Annie O’Connell at 1.15pm ET. Downtown streets in Louisville, about 50 miles from Frankfort, have been closed off all week as the city awaited the announcement.
Downtown streets in Louisville, about 50 miles from Frankfort, have been closed off all week and the city has been on edge as it awaited the announcement. Dozens of people who had gathered there waiting for the announcement on Wednesday burst into tears when it became clear that only one officer would be indicted, and with a more minor charge than many had expected.
They began marching and chanting as Cameron was still talking, explaining how six police bullets struck Taylor after Mattingly fired six shots, Cosgrove fired 16 shots and Hankison fired 10 shots after entering Taylor’s apartment. Cosgrove is believed to have fired the fatal shot, Cameron said.
The officers opened fire after, Mattingly told investigators, they burst into the apartment and saw a man and a woman at the end of the hallway, following which Walker fired one shot that hit Mattingly in the thigh. The police officers then opened fire. Hankison fired from outside the bedroom where Taylor died.
Cameron said the loss of Taylor’s life was a tragedy.
“I know that not everyone will be satisfied by the charges today,” Cameron said.
He added: “I understand as a Black man how painful this is … my heart breaks for the loss of Miss Taylor.”
Louisville was placed under a state of emergency Tuesday as city officials closed down a more than 25-block perimeter to traffic. Most city administrative buildings and other businesses were boarded up in anticipation of the decision.Louisville was placed under a state of emergency Tuesday as city officials closed down a more than 25-block perimeter to traffic. Most city administrative buildings and other businesses were boarded up in anticipation of the decision.
Protests in Louisville related to Taylor’s death in March have been taking place for more than 100 consecutive days and have been overwhelmingly peaceful.Protests in Louisville related to Taylor’s death in March have been taking place for more than 100 consecutive days and have been overwhelmingly peaceful.
A state of emergency was declared in Louisville in anticipation of protests following the grand jury decision.A state of emergency was declared in Louisville in anticipation of protests following the grand jury decision.
Last week the city of Louisville reached a $12m settlement with Taylor’s family in a civil suit stemming from the shooting. The city has also agreed to policing reforms including a requirement that commanders approve all search warrants before they go to a judge.Last week the city of Louisville reached a $12m settlement with Taylor’s family in a civil suit stemming from the shooting. The city has also agreed to policing reforms including a requirement that commanders approve all search warrants before they go to a judge.
California senator and Democratic vice-presidential nominee Kamala Harris has called for the Department of Justice to investigate Taylor’s killing.California senator and Democratic vice-presidential nominee Kamala Harris has called for the Department of Justice to investigate Taylor’s killing.
Former Washington, DC, and Philadelphia police chief Charles Ramsey told CNN he did not think it was a surprise that the two officers who were not indicted had not been charged.
“Charges are filed on the basis of evidence, not to appease people,” he said.