The grand jury indicted one of the three officers involved in the shooting death of Breonna Taylor but not for her murder. The former detective, Brett Hankison, was charged with reckless endangerment of Breonna Taylor’s neighbors. People are outraged saying this is not the justice Breonna Taylor deserves.
Brett Hankison was indicted on Wednesday for three counts of first-degree “wanton endangerment.” In Kentucky, wanton endangerment is a felony charge that could mean up to five years in prison. The other two officers involved in the shooting were not indicted.
The Anger
I just realized that if every single bullet fired by the Louisville police department had hit Breonna Taylor, they would be facing zero charges.
— Pardon The Insurrection Podcast (@PardonPod) September 24, 2020
The police that murdered Breonna Taylor in her own home are getting off scot-free.
I continue to be repulsed by our “justice” system that does nothing to stop mass shooters like the one at my high school yet murders our fellow Americans simply for existing as Black people.
— David Hogg ???? (@davidhogg111) September 24, 2020
Breonna Taylor’s life matters. This morning, her family and friends woke up to another day without her. The broken system that failed Breonna, and so many others, must be reformed to address the racial discrimination in policing that threatens Black lives.
— Captain Mark Kelly (@CaptMarkKelly) September 24, 2020
The same people who say they need to be armed with AR-15’s in case someone bursts into their homes in the middle of the night
Are now blaming Breonna Taylor’s boyfriend for being armed and shooting at someone bursting into his home in the middle of the night— William Buecker (@wcbuecker) September 24, 2020
RIP to Breonna Taylor’s neighbor’s wall. Your life did not go in vain. Justice has been served.
— S. (@_ssimpson_) September 24, 2020
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Celebrity Comments
Keep speaking Breonna Taylor’s name.
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) September 24, 2020
The only way we can truly demand justice for #BreonnaTaylor & those like her is to VOTE for change in national AND local elections. Go to https://t.co/FpyXgzFTh0 and learn about who will be on your national AND local ballot on November 3. ????: Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images
— Hamilton (@HamiltonMusical) September 24, 2020
Anybody who is pinning the lack of charges in the Breonna Taylor case on systemic racism is being deliberately obtuse or morally disgusting. There were facts. Those facts did not justify criminal charges. Justice is refusing to acquiesce to a baying mob ignoring fact patterns.
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) September 24, 2020
Breonna Taylor should be alive today.
This was not an unavoidable tragedy.
Her killing was, like far too many others, the consequence of a broken system.
We must demand justice and demand reform.
— Archive: Governor Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) September 24, 2020
It is your right to mourn the loss of Breonna Taylor. It is your right to demand an investigation. It is your right to be angry with the charges or lack there of. It is NOT your right to riot, loot and burn and it is NOT your right to attack innocent officers.
— Tomi Lahren (@TomiLahren) September 24, 2020
Breonna Taylor’s life mattered.
Black women's lives matter.
And it matters that millions of people keep calling for justice and equality under the law.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 24, 2020
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I’ve been lost for words today! I’m devastated, hurt, sad, mad! We want Justice for Breonna yet justice was met for her neighbors apartment walls and not her beautiful life. Was I surprised at the verdict. Absolutely not but damnit I was & still am hurt and heavy hearted! I send
— LeBron James (@KingJames) September 24, 2020
People Who Support The Indictment
Breonna Taylor was with a guy that shot at the police. I’m confused about why y’all are so shocked? Shouldn’t y’all be mad at the weak dude that put her in that situation?
— CCG BRYSON (@RealBrysonGray) September 24, 2020
https://twitter.com/MrMichaelBurkes/status/1309139795617120256?s=20
Disturbing that Joe Biden and other leftist politicians push to prosecute police officers for Breonna Taylor shooting despite no evidence of wrongdoing.
— Tom Fitton (@TomFitton) September 24, 2020
Wanton Endangerment
I’m sure most of you are wondering what wanton endangerment means. Well, according to the state law of Kentucky wanton endangerment in the first degree is considered a Class D felony. In Kentucky, people who are convicted of Class D felonies face up to 5 years in prison.
Kentucky law states, “A person is guilty of wanton endangerment in the first degree when, under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to value of human life, he wantonly engages in conduct which creates a substantial danger of death or serious physical injury to another person.”
The charges that Hankison is facing actually has absolutely nothing to do with Breonna Taylor. Judge Annie O’Connell read the charges stating the officer, “wantonly shot a gun,” into a neighbor’s apartment.
Daniel Cameron, Kentucky Attorney General, explained that there wasn’t enough convincing evidence to link Hankison’s shots to the ones that killed Breonna Taylor. Breonna Taylor’s boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, fired at the officers which according to the attorney general, justifies the return of fire.
Breonna Taylor
Breonna Taylor was 26-years-old when she was killed. She was a ER technician with so many exciting plans for her future.
On March 13th, in her apartment in Louisville, Breonna Taylor was shot six times and bled out on the floor. The Kentucky Police had a ‘no-knock’ search warrant for Breonna Taylor’s apartment. Her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, said he did not know it was police and opened fire.
There was a total of 32 shots fired by the police that night. Attorney General Cameron explained the F.B.I. laboratory concluded that the shot that was fatal was fired by Detective Cosgrove. However, a lab in Kentucky could not determine exactly who fired the fatal shot.
Sam Aguiar, a lawyer representing Taylor’s family, blames the police department’s failure. Aguiar stated, “ Breonna Taylor gets shot in her own home, with her boyfriend doing what’s as American as apple pie, in the defending himself and his woman.”
Cameron stated the investigation confirmed police had knocked and announced their presence properly before entering Taylor’s apartment. Walker and neighbors in interviews have said that they did not hear the police announce themselves.
President Trump commented on the matter stating, “I think it’s a sad thing, and I give my regards to the family,” Trump said. “I also think it’s so sad what’s happening with everything about that case, including law enforcement. So many people suffering.”
The Aftermath
Breonna Taylor has become an icon for the racial injustice that the black community faces. Her name along with other victims like George Floyd and Jacob Blake have been the center of the Black Lives Matter protests.
It took several months for Breonna Taylor to get justice. Breonna Taylor’s family received a of 12 million dollars along with changes to prevent future deaths by officers. The agreement was annouced about the settlement of the wrongful-death lawsuit on September 15th.
Breonna’s law was created to stop the use of “no-knock” search warrants. The law states, “a Federal law enforcement officer 9 (as defined in section 115 of title 18, United States Code) 10 may not execute a warrant until after the officer provides 11 notice of his or her authority and purpose.”
The indictment that Hankison received is not justice for Breonna Taylor. Many people have continued to protest and say her name to get her the justice she derives. She was murdered in her own home and the officer was charged for the bullets he missed.
People are heartbroken to see this happen. They are tired and disappointed with the system that is broken. Many questioning if the officer wasn’t guilty of killing Breonna then why did her family receive a settlement for 12 million dollars in the wrongful-death lawsuit.
How much is a life worth that this injustice is happening? Taylor’s family and legal team wanted harsher charges. Activists are calling for real justice to be served. An attorney that represents Taylor’s family, Ben Crump, hoped to at least have the officer charged with manslaughter in the second degree.
Breonna Taylor deserves better than this. Activists, friends, and family demand justice. Many people have taken to social media to tell America, “We need to do better.”
