Breonna Taylor's Family Attorney Slams Grand Jury's Decision To Indict One Police Officer
Benjamin Crump, the attorney representing Breonna Taylor‘s family, blasted a Louisville grand jury that indicted one police officer involved in a raid that led to her death.
Former Detective Brett Hankison’s was indicted for wanton endangerment of Taylor’s neighbors. Meanwhile, the other two white police officers who fired into Taylor’s apartment will not be charged.
Hankison was charged with wanton endangerment in the first degree, which carries a maximum prison sentence of five years.
He fired his service weapon ten times, and some of the bullets went through Taylor’s apartment to the next-door apartment where a pregnant woman and a child were home.
Additionally, officials said they did not find “conclusive” evidence that any of his bullets struck Taylor.
The two other officers, Sergeant Jonathan Mattingly and Detective Myles Cosgrove, were not charged because the grand jury found they were justified in returning fire after Taylor’s boyfriend shot at them.
Crump tweeted on Wednesday, “Jefferson County Grand Jury indicts former ofc. Brett Hankison with 3 counts of Wanton Endangerment in 1st Degree for bullets that went into other apartments but NOTHING for the murder of Breonna Taylor. This is outrageous and offensive!”
“If Brett Hankison’s behavior was wanton endangerment to people in neighboring apartments, then it should have been wanton endangerment in Breonna Taylor’s apartment too. In fact, it should have been ruled wanton murder!” he added.
If Brett Hankison's behavior was wanton endangerment to people in neighboring apartments, then it should have been wanton endangerment in Breonna Taylor's apartment too. In fact, it should have been ruled wanton murder!
— Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) September 23, 2020
Taylor, 26, was a Black medical worker. She died in Louisville, Kentucky, in March after police reportedly executed a “no-knock” warrant shortly after midnight.
Her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, fired at the officers and later he said he was not aware they were law enforcement officials.
Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron (R) said it was a “gut-wrenching, emotional case” during a press conference.
However, Cameron said on Wednesday, that the officers announced themselves outside the apartment — which he said a witness corroborated — and after they did not receive a response, they “breached the door.”
Officials say that information shows officers did not execute a “no-knock” warrant.
Officers obtained the warrant as part of a drug investigation. They told a judge they believed a suspect used Taylor’s apartment to receive packages.
On Wednesday, hundreds of anti-racism protesters gathered on the streets of Louisville to voice their outrage.
The City of Louisville previously agreed to pay Taylor’s family $12 million to settle a wrongful death lawsuit, as IJR reported.
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