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No officers were charged with killing Breonna Taylor.
The results of a grand jury probe into the death of Breonna Taylor have been announced.
Former Louisville Metro Police Department officer Brett Hankison has been charged with three counts of wanton endangerment in the first degree -- for firing into neighboring apartments the night Taylor was killed.
No charges were announced for Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly or Detective Myles Cosgrove, the other two officers involved -- and the grand jury didn't move forward with any charges against all three of them for their role in Taylor's death.
Hankison's bail has been set at $15,000.
He had already been fired for his role in the shooting, terminated for actions which "displayed an extreme indifference to the value of human life" when he "wantonly and blindly fired ten rounds" from outside Taylor's apartment. During a press conference, attorney general Daniel Cameron said none of Hankison's bullets struck the victim.
Taylor, a 26-year-old Black EMT, was fatally shot by police in her own home in Louisville, Kentucky on March 13 -- while officers were executing a warrant as part of a drug investigation. While it was initially reported to be a "no knock" warrant, on Wednesday, Cameron said that wasn't the case.
Taylor's ex-boyfriend Jamarcus Glover was the main subject of the investigation. The warrant authorized a search on Taylor's apartment, where no drugs were found. Her family has maintained she played no role in the alleged drug trade.
Police say they knocked on the door, announced themselves and were met with gunfire upon entering the apartment, citing Breonna's boyfriend as the instigator. Taylor's boyfriend, Kenneth Walker III, said police broke into the apartment unannounced, with Walker III firing at them in self-defense. None of the police were wearing body cams.
Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove were previously placed on administrative reassignment. Cameron said they were justified in their use of force.
Louisville mayor Greg Fischer preemptively declared a state of emergency "due to the potential for civil unrest" ahead of the announcement.
Breonna's killing became a focal point of the nationwide Black Lives Matter protests against police brutality and racial injustice in the wake of George Floyd's death, who died after a white police officer kneeled on his neck for several minutes in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
After the grand jury announcement was made, celebrities, politicians and other media figures all shared their outrage on social media:
Wanton endangerment?
— yvette nicole brown (@YNB) September 23, 2020 @YNB
That’s what we’re calling killing a a person as the sleep now?! #JusticeForBreonnaTaylor
No. Officers. Charged. In. The. Killing. Of. #BreonnaTaylor.
— yvette nicole brown (@YNB) September 23, 2020 @YNB
One. Was. Charged. For. Endangering. But. NOT. Killing. Her. Neighbors. #MakeMeWannaHollerAndThrowUpBothMyHands. https://t.co/1khlfDlBv7
Daniel Cameron is on Donald Trump’s short list as replacement of #RGB on the Supreme Court. The same man who decided to not charge the officers responsible for killing #BreonnaTaylor. Vote.
— kerry washington (@kerrywashington) September 23, 2020 @kerrywashington
👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾 https://t.co/bcSohKouq7
— Gabrielle Union (@itsgabrielleu) September 23, 2020 @itsgabrielleu
"To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a state of rage almost all of the time." James Baldwin. #BreonnaTaylor pic.twitter.com/CUcRcEsXCE
— COMMON (@common) September 23, 2020 @common
What is most insulting is that the recommended charges aren't even in response to the MURDER of Breonna Taylor, but to the POTENTIAL injury of other people in the apartment.....
— Yara shahidi (@YaraShahidi) September 23, 2020 @YaraShahidi
'No knock warrants' feels analogous to the experience of being Black in America ... The unsolicited intrusion of racism and violence dealt with on a daily basis ...
— Yara shahidi (@YaraShahidi) September 23, 2020 @YaraShahidi
The state of Kentucky deemed the lives of Breonna Taylor’s neighbors to be worth more than her own. Let that sink in.
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) September 23, 2020 @jemelehill
You’re right. The building received more consideration. https://t.co/4AwEqMY7lS
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) September 23, 2020 @jemelehill
This is shameful. They murdered her in her own home.
— Emmy Rossum (@emmyrossum) September 23, 2020 @emmyrossum
BREONNA TAYLOR. She deserves better. She should be alive. Bare minimum. But since she isn’t- I’m praying for her family. Praying for #LouisvilleKy
— JoJo. (@iamjojo) September 23, 2020 @iamjojo
Sending love to Breonna’s family. To Louisville.
— JoJo. (@iamjojo) September 23, 2020 @iamjojo
wow. this is America.
— JoJo. (@iamjojo) September 23, 2020 @iamjojo
Brett Hankison is indicted for shooting into the apartment NEXT to Breonna Taylor & not for KILLING HER.
— W. Kamau Bell (@wkamaubell) September 23, 2020 @wkamaubell
He's fired for shooting into BREONNA TAYLOR'S apartment & not for KILLING HER.
This is systemic racism.
Property is worth more than a Black woman. https://t.co/abVLkTqg1s pic.twitter.com/CwflSjR42h
Maybe without murdering an innocent woman/first responder in her own home? Maybe? https://t.co/uGX6FRUSAh
— Jeffrey Wright (@jfreewright) September 23, 2020 @jfreewright
"The charges..said Hankison 'wantonly shot a gun' into 3(!!) apartments..grand jury did not find that Hankison wantonly fired into Taylor's apt...
— Jeffrey Wright (@jfreewright) September 23, 2020 @jfreewright
Mattingly, Cosgrove & Hankison fired more than two dozen rounds..she was hit 5 times."
No charges for killing her. Change the laws! https://t.co/BOgYtW6WcP
Once again, the law says that property is more valuable than Black life.
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) September 23, 2020 @IlhanMN
We cannot let up in our fight for justice for Breonna Taylor and every Black and brown person murdered at the hands of police. We will fight to end qualified immunity. https://t.co/JeHOP3GEVG
No one was charged for the death of Breonna Taylor. Knock it off with the headlines that suggest otherwise.
— Maya Harris (@mayaharris_) September 23, 2020 @mayaharris_
They never get it right and that doesn't make it hurt any less. Breonna Taylor should still be with us and her family deserved justice today. Tired of this shit.
— Matthew A. Cherry (@MatthewACherry) September 23, 2020 @MatthewACherry
“Black Lives Matter” exists because of days like today. Breonna Taylor should still be alive.
— Andrew Yang🧢🇺🇸 (@AndrewYang) September 23, 2020 @AndrewYang
Daniel Cameron just called Breonna Taylor’s death “part of a national story.” No, man. Her death is a robbery. Those officers robbed her of her life. They robbed her family and her boyfriend of their loved one. They robbed Louisville of a first responder. Who elected this man?
— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) September 23, 2020 @JoyAnnReid
Apparently, no one killed Breonna Taylor. She simply died in a “tragedy.” Like she had a hard fall or got hit by a bus. This apparently is the law in thr State of Kentucky, according to @kyoag Cameron.
— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) September 23, 2020 @JoyAnnReid
#BreonnaTaylor was murdered in her own home on March 13th. She was murdered by three people who swore to serve and protect her. Today is September 23nd. One man was charged with "Wanton Endangerment" and the other two still walk free.
— Natalie Morales (@nataliemorales) September 23, 2020 @nataliemorales
Brett Hankinson, one of Breonna Taylor’s murderers, was NOT charged with murder, but with wanton endangerment. This crime is punishable with up to five years in prison. That’s one year for each bullet fired into her sleeping body. NOT GOOD ENOUGH. #JusticeForBreonna
— Ron Perlman (@perlmutations) September 23, 2020 @perlmutations
Praying for Breonna’s mother and family. Because they knew and loved her before her name became a hashtag.
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) September 23, 2020 @BerniceKing
Black Lives Matter. Breonna Taylor’s life mattered. What has been announced in Kentucky is not even remotely in the realm of anything that even begins to approach true justice for her murder. #BlackLivesMatter #BreonnaTaylorWasMurdered
— Anthony Rapp Black Lives Matter (@albinokid) September 23, 2020 @albinokid
I can’t talk about Breonna right now. I literally cannot. I will actually have a mental breakdown.
— Kamie Crawford (@KamieCrawford) September 23, 2020 @KamieCrawford
Just fucking vote in November.
HOW?!?! How was shooting #BreonnaTaylor justified?? The woman was asleep!!! This is America. 😢
— Sydelle Noel (@sydelle_noel) September 23, 2020 @sydelle_noel
infuriating. no justice, no peace.
— tyler oakley (@tyleroakley) September 23, 2020 @tyleroakley
join me in supporting protesters demanding justice for Breonna Taylor by donating to the Louisville Community Bail Fund: https://t.co/7YP10lSKrM https://t.co/ArsRef5zZK
Please pray for Breonna Taylor’s family and send them strength.
— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) September 23, 2020 @MeghanMcCain
This is so fucking fucked up. #JusticeForBreonnaTaylor
— Brooke Lynn Hytes (@Bhytes1) September 23, 2020 @Bhytes1
Wanton endangerment is a very strange way to spell murder
— Катя (@katya_zamo) September 23, 2020 @katya_zamo
This is fucked up. Justice for the DEATH of Breonna Taylor! https://t.co/aqFL3ydhPW
— TATIANNA (@TATIANNANOW) September 23, 2020 @TATIANNANOW
Justice has not been served. So we’ll keep standing up and fighting for #BreonnaTaylor. Keep saying her name. pic.twitter.com/0PawdfjsqB
— BeBe Black Lives Matter Benet (@BeBeZaharaBenet) September 23, 2020 @BeBeZaharaBenet
