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An attorney for Breonna Taylor’s family has called the grand jury proceedings a “sham” that has demonstrated racial disparities in the US court system.
Ms. Taylor, a black hospital worker, was shot six times and killed at age 26 when police raided her home on March 13.
On Wednesday, a grand jury in Kentucky returned a misdemeanor charge against one of the three officers for gunshots that hit a neighboring apartment.
Two officers were shot amid protests sparked by the decision.
The individual charged in the Taylor case is Brett Hankison, who was fired from the force in June. He faces three counts of “unjustified danger in the first degree.”
Under Kentucky law, senseless endangerment applies to an act of “extreme disregard for the value of human life.” It is the lowest level felony offense and carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison per charge.
Ms. Taylor’s family had requested the arrest of the three officers, but the grand jury, a panel made up of members of the public to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to initiate a prosecution, has refused to do so.
Attorney Ben Crump said in a tweet that the accusation was “insulting and offensive to the life, legacy and family of Breonna Taylor.”
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Breonna Taylor was an emergency medical technician
“The grand jury proceedings were a SHAME. The ‘senseless endangerment’ charge is an example of America’s two justice systems: protecting white neighbors and ignoring the death of a black woman.”
The other two officers involved were justified in their actions, the Kentucky attorney general said Wednesday.
One had been shot by Ms. Taylor’s boyfriend, who later told police that he thought it was an ex-boyfriend of Ms. Taylor who had broken into the apartment.
A judge had issued a warrant to search Ms. Taylor’s home because investigators suspected her ex-boyfriend, a convicted drug dealer, was using the address to receive packages. Ms. Taylor had no criminal record.
Cases of killings of unarmed black people by the police have fueled anger in the United States and beyond, spurred especially by the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis in May.
What’s going on in Louisville?
Protests were sparked across the United States in anger over the grand jury’s decision. In Louisville, a state of emergency was declared and the National Guard was deployed.
The curfew is also in effect from 21:00 to 06:30 (01: 00-10: 30 GMT). Police say at least 127 arrests were made in Louisville overnight. Most of the arrests were for breaking the curfew.
The two police officers shot during Wednesday’s riots were identified as Major Aubrey Gregory and Officer Robinson Desroches. Major Gregory has already been released from the hospital, authorities say, and Desroches is on the mend.
Larynzo Johnson, 26, has been arrested as an alleged assailant.
At a news conference Wednesday night, Louisville Acting Police Chief Robert Schroeder declined to comment on whether Johnson had been participating in the protests.
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Larynzo Johnson is accused of shooting police officers
According to the Associated Press, the attack occurred as protesters moved through an alley to avoid a police check while officers threw pepperballs at them. When the shots rang out, the crowd dispersed for cover as officers in riot gear and rifles stormed the area.
Protests over the grand jury decision also took place in New York, Washington, Atlanta and Chicago.
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What did officials say Wednesday?
Following the decision, Kentucky Attorney General Mr. Cameron, the state’s chief prosecutor, said “there was nothing I could offer [Ms Taylor’s family] today to remove the pain and anguish as a result of losing a son, a niece, a sister and a friend, “calling it a” heartbreaking emotional case. “
Cameron said that a ballistics report found that six bullets had hit Ms. Taylor, but only one had been fatal. That analysis concluded that Detective Myles Cosgrove had fired the shot that killed Ms. Taylor.
The attorney general said it was unclear if Hankison’s shots had also hit Taylor, but they had hit a neighboring apartment.
He said Mr. Cosgrove and the third officer, Jonathan Mattingly, were “justified in protecting themselves and justification prohibits us from bringing criminal charges.”
The FBI was still investigating possible violations of federal law in the case, Cameron added.
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What has been the reaction?
Ms. Taylor’s family members and activists had been demanding that the three officers, all white, be charged with murder or manslaughter.
When asked about the charges at a press conference at the White House, US President Donald Trump said he “thought it was really brilliant.”
He praised the Kentucky attorney general, who addressed the Republican party convention last month, for “doing a fantastic job.”
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Crowds of protesters marched through Brooklyn in New York, chanting Ms. Taylor’s name
Trump’s Democratic challenger for the November election, Joe Biden, said the decision “does not answer” the call for justice, while telling protesters to act peacefully.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, urged prosecutors to release the evidence that was presented to the grand jury.
“I think having more data available for people to see, for people to really process, is where we need to be,” he said.
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Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, the highest-ranking Democrat in Washington, said Thursday that “justice was denied to Breonna Taylor and her family.”
Sen. Kamala Harris, who is running for vice president with Joe Biden, wrote on Twitter that American should “keep calling Breonna Taylor’s name.”
What were the circumstances of Ms. Taylor’s murder?
Plainclothes police officers, executing a search warrant, broke into the apartment where Breonna Taylor was in bed with her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, shortly after midnight.
Walker fired his licensed weapon and later told police that he thought Taylor’s ex-boyfriend, Jamarcus Glover, had broken in, according to the New York Times.
Authorities say Walker’s bullet struck Mattingly in the leg. All three officers returned fire and fired 32 rounds, according to an FBI ballistics report.
Ms. Taylor was shot in the middle of the commotion and died on the hallway floor.
No drugs were found on the property, although Jefferson County Attorney Thomas Wine said the search was called off after the shooting.
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From left: Brett Hankison, Jonathan Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove
A subsequent police report contained errors, including listing Ms. Taylor’s injuries as “none” and the fact that no force was used to enter when a battering ram was used.
Hankison was fired from police after investigators discovered he had “fired 10 rounds senseless and blind” during the raid, according to his firing letter.
Mr. Mattingly and Mr. Cosgrove were reassigned to administrative duties.
