Breonna Taylor memorial/Photo courtesy of The New York Times
A newly-released report has come from the investigation into the tragic death of Breonna Taylor while she slept in her Lousiville, Kentucky home in March last year, reported Wave 3 News.
Sergeant Andrew Meyer of the Louisville Metro Police Department’s Professional Standards Unit noted in a report from December 4 that the three officers who were involved in the incident disobeyed policy when they did not hold their fire even after Taylor’s boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, shot one of the officers, according to documents
obtained by ABC News.“They took a total of 32 shots when the provided circumstances made it unsafe to take a single shot. This is how the wrong person was shot and killed,” Meyer wrote.
Officers Myles Cosgrove, Brett Hankison, and Jon Mattingly went to the home to serve a warrant pertaining to narcotics activity. Startled by the three suddenly entering the apartment unannounced, Walker fired a shot that hit Mattingly in the leg. The injured officer and his colleagues unleashed a hail of gunfire in retaliation, unloading their guns and killing Taylor.
Meyer found that their decision to do so violated the department’s use-of-force policy because they ignored the risk of shooting someone who did not pose a real threat. After Walker shot Mattingly, he ducked into a dark back bedroom, yet officers gave no regard to Taylor.
Meyer’s report was supported by Lieutenant Jeff Artman, but it contradicts an earlier investigation by senior officials at the police department. It also contradicts Attorney General Daniel Cameron’s finding that Cosgrove and Mattingly were justified in firing their weapons because Walker fired first.
Lonita Baker, the attorney for Breonna Taylor’s family, said that officers should have retreated as their training policy indicated. She also said that it was disappointing that former interim Louisville Police Chief Yvette Gentry decided not to discipline Mattingly. Gentry retired in January. Kenneth Walker filed a lawsuit in March against the police department and the officers for violation of his Fourth Amendment rights.
Although the investigation may bring some posthumous vindication to Taylor, her family and an outraged public, it does not change the fact that none of the offers have been disciplined for her death. For his part, Mattingly received a book deal from Post Hill Press and announced his plans to retire on June 1.