A grand jury has indicted one of three Louisville police officers involved in the case over the shooting death of Breonna Taylor, according to Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron.
Former Louisville Metro Police Department officer Brett Hankison was indicted on three counts of wanton endangerment in the first degree in the Breonna Taylor shooting case, a grand jury reported Wednesday, according to the Courier Journal.
The two other officers involved in the case, Myles Cosgrove and Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly, were not indicted.
During a press conference Wednesday announcing the report, Cameron said that Louisville Police knocked and announced their presence, which he says was corroborated by an “independent witness.” He also said Mattingly and Cosgrove were “justified in their use of force after having been fired upon.”
Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron: “Our investigation found that Mattingly and Cosgrove were justified in their use of force after having been fired upon by Kenneth Walker,” #BreonnaTaylor‘s boyfriend. pic.twitter.com/4MmSIhkgkh
— Tony Morrison ????️???? • ABC News (@THETonyMorrison) September 23, 2020
Charges only brought on Officer Brett Hankinson (who has already been fired by LMPD) for wanton endangerment in the Breonna Taylor shooting. His bond is set at $15,000.
Officers Mattingly and Cosgrove were not indicted.
— Daniel Desrochers (@drdesrochers) September 23, 2020
1. No criminal charges against the other two @LMPD officers involved in the shooting.
2. Former Officer Brett Hankison is being charged with firing blindly into the apartment but not specifically for the death of #BreonnaTaylor.
3. $15,000 full cash bond for Hankison. https://t.co/wxglacQxYS
— Philmonger (@phillipmbailey) September 23, 2020
Cameron added that his office could not pursue charges against Mattingly and Cosgrove. He also warned against reacting based on emotion and said that “mob justice is not justice.”
Kentucky AG Cameron: “If we simply act on emotion or outrage, there is no justice. Mob justice is not justice.”
— Josh Kraushaar (@HotlineJosh) September 23, 2020
The decision in the case comes more than 6 months after Taylor was fatally shot in her apartment by Louisville Police while they were executing a no-knock warrant in March. The officers alleged they were fired upon by Taylor’s boyfriend, Kenneth Walker.
Taylor’s death drew national outcry, especially when protests and riots erupted across the country following the death of George Floyd in May.
The grand jury’s decision follows the city of Louisville‘s settlement with Taylor’s family. The $12 million settlement is reportedly the largest in the city’s history, NBC News correspondent Blayne Alexander tweeted. The police department also announced various reforms, including that police executives now have to OK search warrants before being approved by a judge, Alexander wrote. (RELATED: Louisville Police Department Declares State Of Emergency Ahead Of Grand Jury Decision Regarding Breonna Taylor)
NOW: city of Louisville agrees to following in #BreonnaTaylor settlement:
-$12 million to family
-commanding officers must approve search warrants
-incentives for officers to live in city, improve relationships w/ community
-social workers help w/ mental health calls— Blayne Alexander (@ReporterBlayne) September 15, 2020
Hankison, who shot 10 rounds into the apartment, was fired after displaying “an extreme indifference to the value of human life,” according to a letter posted on the Louisville Police Department’s Twitter account. Cosgrove and Mattingly were placed on administrative leave after the shooting.
Mattingly allegedly sent an email Tuesday to more than 1,000 colleagues defending his actions the night of Taylor’s death while criticizing Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer.
“I’m sorry you have to go through this. I’m sorry your families have to go through this. I’m sorry the Mayor, [Public Safety Chief] Amy Hess and [Former Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD)] Chief [Steve] Conrad failed all of us in epic proportions for their own gain and to cover their asses,” the alleged email, which was first reported by VICE’s Roberto Aram Ferdman, reads.
New: LMPD Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly (who is being investigated as part of Breonna Taylor’s case) sent an email to around 1,000 officers at 2am that calls protestors thugs, complains about the government enforcing civil rights violations, and claims this is “good versus evil” pic.twitter.com/VcuyPDP790
— Roberto Aram Ferdman (@robferdman) September 22, 2020
The Louisville Metro Police Department declared a state of emergency Monday ahead of the grand jury decision, which included cancelling vacation and off-day requests, and scheduling officers for 12-hour shifts. Federal buildings in Louisville were boarded up ahead of the decision, and the National Guard was activated along with a countywide curfew.