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Two police officers shot amid Louisville protests over Breonna Taylor ruling

Protests erupt in Louisville over the decision not to indict officers over the death of Breonna Taylor.

Two police officers have been shot and wounded in Louisville, Kentucky, during protests ignited by a grand jury decision in the fatal police shooting of Breonna Taylor.

The grand jury ruled that two white policemen will not be prosecuted in connection with the death of Ms Taylor, a Black medical worker shot in her own apartment, because their use of force during an ill-fated raid on her home was justified.

Kentucky Attorney-General Daniel Cameron said six bullets hit Ms Taylor. One was fatal.

A third officer was charged with endangering her neighbours.

Breonna Taylor smiles in a uniform holding a certificate and flowers.
Breonna Taylor's death helped spark a nationwide wave of protests demanding racial justice.(AP)

Police Chief Robert Schroeder said two officers were shot on duty whilst in the midst of demonstrations.

One officer is alert and stable and the other officer is in surgery and stable.

He said the officers were investigating reports of shots fired when they were hit by bullets but declined to give any further details.

Demonstrations continue into the night despite protesters being moved along ahead of a curfew.

A suspect is now in custody, he said.

Protesters were out in force following the announcement chanting, "No justice, no peace!" as they began marching through the streets. Some sat quietly and wept.

Mr Cameron, who is the state's first black Attorney-General, said the investigation found the two other officers, Sergeant Jonathan Mattingly and Detective Myles Cosgrove, announced themselves before entering the 26-year-old's apartment, and did not use a 'no-knock' warrant.

Kentucky prosecutors say two officers who fired their weapons at Breonna Taylor were justified.

Previously it had been widely reported that police used a 'no-knock' warrant as part of a narcotics investigation

Mr Cameron, called Ms Taylor's death a "tragedy", but said the circumstances surrounding her death were different when compared to other police shootings.

"The decision before my office as the special prosecutor in this case was not to decide if the loss of Ms Taylor's life was a tragedy. The answer to that is unequivocally, yes," he said.

People gather in Jefferson Square among tributes to Ms Taylor awaiting word on charges against police officers.
People gathered in Jefferson Square awaiting word on charges against police officers.(AP: Darron Cummings)

Officers in riot gear fired stun grenades, and a few small fires burned in a square that's been at the centre of protests,

Police detained some demonstrators and later cordoned off a street with yellow tape, telling protesters to move back.

Officers in protective gear could be seen detaining and handcuffing some of the protesters.

The area was largely cleared out ahead of a night time curfew, with demonstrators moving to other parts of downtown Louisville.

Police holding batons arrest protesters.
Police detained and handcuffed some of the protesters.(AP: John Minchillo)



President Donald Trump welcomed the decision and praised Mr Cameron for his "brilliant" handling of the investigation.

He made particular note of what he referred to as a "terrific statement" by Mr Cameron that "justice is not often easy".

Mr Trump said that he would be speaking with Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear soon.

Former Louisville police officer Brett Hankison in his profile photo for the department.
Brett Hankison was charged with three counts of wanton endangerment for firing into Ms Taylor's neighbours' homes.(AP: Louisville Metro Police Department)

'Outrageous and offensive'

Along with the killing of George Floyd in Minnesota, Ms Taylor's case became a major touchstone for the protests that have gripped the nation since May — drawing attention to entrenched racism while demanding police reform.

Ms Taylor's image has been painted on streets, emblazoned on protest signs and silk-screened onto T-shirts worn by celebrities.

A woman with her head back and mouth open wearing a Breonna Taylor t-short near a Black Lives Matter flag.
Enraged protesters began marching through the streets after the announcement.(AP: Darron Cummings)

The announcement of the charges drew immediate sadness, frustration and anger that the grand jury did not go further.

"It's almost like a slap in the face," said 15-year-old student Morgan Julianna Lee.

"If I, as a Black woman, ever need justice, I will never get it."

As the protests continued in Louisville, police declare unlawful assembly before curfew, saying chemical agents may be used if protesters don't disperse.

Mr Beshear said he had authorised a "limited" deployment of the National Guard as hundreds of demonstrators gathered.

Speaking at a news conference, he said the deployment is "based on very specific operations", and was under the sole command of the National Guard.

Governor Beshear said the National Guard would protect "critical infrastructure", including hospitals.

Lawyer Ben Crump, representing Ms Taylor's family, wrote on Twitter the lack of charges directly related to her death was "outrageous and offensive".

A man winces as he lays on the ground, held down by police.
Ms Taylor's death has led to nationwide protests.(AP: John Minchillo)

The state of Kentucky has implemented a curfew from 9:00pm (local time).



Police and protesters converge during a demonstration as police cordon off the area.
Police warn chemical agents may be used if protesters do not disperse.(AP: John Minchillo)

Ms Taylor's boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, opened fire when police burst in, hitting Sergeant Mattingly.


Mr Walker told police he heard knocking, but didn't know who was coming into the home, and fired in self-defence.

Police detain a group of people as they sit on the ground with their hands cuffed behind their backs.
Police declare unlawful assembly ahead of the 9pm curfew.(AP: John Minchillo)

Officer Hankison was fired from the city's police department on June 23.

A termination letter said the white officer had violated procedures by showing "extreme indifference to the value of human life" when he "wantonly and blindly" shot 10 rounds of gunfire into Ms Taylor's apartment in March.

On September 15, the city settled a lawsuit against the three officers brought by Ms Taylor's mother, Tamika Palmer, agreeing to pay her $12 million and enact police reforms.



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