#Medical Error Attorneys in Kentucky

[breenwillifordinjurylaw]

FIGHTING FOR A FAIR RECOVERY WHEN AN ACCIDENT CAUSES A BRAIN INJURY AND EPILEPSY

FIGHTING FOR A FAIR RECOVERY WHEN AN ACCIDENT CAUSES A BRAIN INJURY AND EPILEPSY

Some of the dangers of a traumatic brain injury are immediately apparent. You may lose consciousness or experience headaches, dizziness, confusion, or other symptoms. Some of the dangers, however, may come later.

TBI CAN CAUSE EPILEPSY IN KENTUCKY ACCIDENT VICTIMS

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a traumatic brain injury increases a person’s chances of developing epilepsy. The seizures may develop immediately after or many years after sustaining a brain injury.

Epilepsy is a brain condition that impacts the electrical communication between the neurons of the brain. This can occur when the brain is damaged in a car crash, fall, or another type of accident. A person may be diagnosed with epilepsy if that person has two or more unprovoked seizures that are at least 24 hours apart, or one seizure with a significant risk of having another one. Neurological tests are often used to confirm the diagnosis.

Treatment for epilepsy may include anti-seizure medications, surgery, and other kinds of therapies. Sometimes it takes some trial and error to figure out how best to control seizures.

Your life may be significantly impacted by epilepsy. In Kentucky, there are special driver’s license requirements for people with epilepsy, for example. Your seizures may also affect your ability to work and your personal relationships.

GET THE RECOVERY YOU DESERVE IF YOU DEVELOP EPILEPSY FROM A BRAIN INJURY

If your brain injury was caused by someone else’s negligence, you deserve to make a full and fair recovery for all of your related injuries, including epilepsy. Damages could include compensation for all of your past, current, and future:

Healthcare costs, including medical exams, hospitalizations, surgeries, and medications

Lost income if you are unable to work or unable to earn the same income that you did before you were hurt

Physical pain and emotional suffering

Out-of-pocket costs you incurred because of your injury

Even if you develop a serious complication, such as epilepsy, you will need to prove your damages to the insurance company or court. This can be challenging, but an experienced brain injury attorney can gather the relevant evidence and make strong arguments to help you make the fair recovery that you deserve.

WHO IS TO BLAME FOR ALL THE TEXTING WHILE DRIVING ACCIDENTS?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says drivers who text message are the highest percentage of those involved in fatal distracted driving crashes.

Distracted driving was responsible for 2,994 fatal crashes in 2017 and countless accident-related injuries which impacted not only the victims, but also families and friends.

In Kentucky, the law bans texting for drivers of all ages while the vehicle is in motion but there is currently no hand-held cell phone use ban except for drivers under the age of 18.

Any lapse in attention to driving can create deadly consequences for all road users but drivers who choose to use their cell phone while driving to text should be held accountable for their poor decision making.

NEW SURVEY SAYS DRIVERS OF ALL AGES ARE TO BLAME FOR TEXTING WHILE DRIVING ACCIDENTS

Texting while driving has become the biggest contributor to distracted driving accidents for drivers of all ages. Using an electronic device while driving is extremely dangerous because the activity causes all three main types of distraction:

Manual – taking your hands off the wheel

Visual – taking your eyes off the road

Cognitive – taking your mind off of driving

And unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be any type of descending trend in these cell-phone related crashes over the last few years. In fact, the only data used to provide nationwide trends on driver electronic device use in the United States comes from the National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS). NOPUS recently reported (2019) there was no significant decrease observed for drivers’ visible manipulation of handheld devices in recent years, and drivers of all ages are continuing to use electronic devices behind the wheel at steady rates.

This news should leave everyone who owns a cell phone and operates a motor vehicle responsible for the 1.6 million crashes annually caused by cell phone use while driving. While the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says drivers under the age of 20 have the highest proportion of distraction-related fatal crashes, an AT&T survey found that more adults (49 percent) than teens (43 percent) admit they text and drive. And nearly 98 percent of those adults were educated, professionals who commuted daily to work and also agreed that sending a text or email while driving isn’t safe.

KENTUCKY LAW ENFORCEMENT IS WATCHING SO STOP TEXTING AND DRIVING

Text messaging for all drivers is banned in Kentucky and 46 other states (plus Washington D.C.), yet it is still happening each day. So much so that officers in the Barbourville Police Department have started patrolling the streets in a tractor-trailer to identify drivers using their phones to text. The truck provides the officers with a higher view into a driver’s space and stop those who are choosing to break Kentucky law and put others at risk.

Using a phone to make or receive calls while driving in Kentucky is legal but should still be considered a distracting activity that puts drivers at risk of taking their attention off the road.

Kentucky State Police have also recently joined in on the “6-State Trooper Project” with Indiana State Police, West Virginia State Police and Michigan State Police to focus stronger on distracted driving enforcement. Officers have been busy enforcing these types of distracted driving violations with zero tolerance:

texting while driving

use of a handheld mobile telephone

use of hearing impairment devices

text-based communications

careless driving

reckless driving

use of an image display device

Social conversations on cell phones should not be carried on while driving and in Kentucky you are likely to be ticketed and fined if caught or worse – find yourself responsible for an unimaginable fatal tragedy. Commit to driving safely and distraction-free, no matter what. If you aren’t paying attention to operating your vehicle safely, you are drastically increasing your risk of causing a crash or failing to avoid one.

DISTRACTED DRIVING AVOIDANCE IS LIFESAVING

The National Safety Council says that every day, at least nine Americans die and 100 are injured in distracted driving crashes. It’s best for all drivers, no matter their experience behind the wheel, to simply turn their phone off (or on silent) to avoid the chance of being distracted by an incoming call, text, or app notification. Even taking your eyes off the road for as little as two seconds can double your chances for getting in a distracted driving wreck.

Drivers can also download a safe driving app such as LifeSaver, Drivesafe.ly, True Motion Family, DriveMode, and SafeDriver or enable their own devices to its “do not disturb while driving” feature, most commonly found with Apple technology.

And for those too tempted to use their phone while driving, finding the willpower to put it in an unreachable spot before starting your journey will take away that urge to send a text or scan your favorite social media site. The trunk or out of reach in the backseat are good places to aim for.

While cell phones and other technologies pose one of the biggest threats to driver and passenger safety today, there are several other driving while distracted activities contributing to the steadiness of crash statistics.

adjusting audio

general cellphone use

eating and drinking

participating in reckless driving behaviors

passengers including children and pets

drowsiness

smoking

in-vehicle technology controls

For many, these distractions, including the need to have access to a cell phone 24/7, have become a habit for many Americans. Kentucky drivers need to work harder to avoid these behaviors to keep themselves and other road users safe from a serious injury or an accident-related fatality they will be sorry to have caused.

DISTRACTED DRIVING ACCIDENT INJURY ATTORNEYS AT BREEN & WILLIFORD

If you have been involved in an accident because of the negligence of a distracted driver or someone who was texting while driving, we offer free initial consultations, and all cases are taken on a contingency fee basis. We can do the work in collecting the evidence to find out if the wrongdoer was in fact texting and driving at the time of the crash to determine liability and settle your claim.

[justicestartshere]

Man wins $37 million case against J&J due to cancer-causing substances

What you need to know

Recently Stephen Lanzo, from New Jersey, won a $37 million case against Johnson & Johnson stating that their talc products contain cancer causing substances, or carcinogens. The suit states a link between Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder and asbestos, a cancer causing substance. Asbestos is known to cause a specific type of cancer called mesothelioma.

Stephen developed mesothelioma, a type of cancer that has no cure. Mesothelioma primarily affects the lungs and other organs in the abdomen. It is debilitating disease that, unfortunately, has an extremely low life expectancy rate. Mesothelioma is treated with either chemotherapy, surgery, or radiation. He attributes his cancer to over 30 years of using Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder unaware of its cancer causing effects.

Products with talc in them create a dust in the air when moved around making it easy to accidentally inhale. Asbestos mostly affects the lungs, so, prolonged exposure to dust clouds containing asbestos would create the perfect breeding ground for mesothelioma.

Contact Attorney

Sarah N. Emery

for all Defective Product Claims

It has since been discovered that Johnson & Johnson may have known and ignored the asbestos being mixed in with their talc products. This would raise suspicion as to why Johnson & Johnson would not warn their customers about the potential cancer risks. The United States Food and Drug Administration calls for all products to be labeled correctly before they’re marketed. Evidently, when mining for talc it is common to run into a deposit of asbestos. They occur near each other naturally. So, when mining for talc sometimes asbestos will be mixed in with the talc and will need to be filtered out. This is why the FDA calls for all products to have correct labels signifying anything that may be in the product itself, especially any substance that could be harmful to an individual’s health.

Johnson & Johnson have repeatedly denied that their products contain any trace amount of asbestos. However, a recent discovery of a report filed by the company, in 1973, states that Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder contains “talc fragments classifiable as fibers,” going on to say that the fibers may be identifiable as asbestos fibers read more...

Get more info : Visit Here : Medical Error Attorneys in Kentucky

[themeanmrmustard]

Serving up tiddies and truth all summer long. Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old Black emergency medical technician, was fatally shot by Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) officers Jonathan Mattingly, Brett Hankison, and Myles Cosgrove on March 13, 2020. Three plainclothes LMPD officers executing a no-knock search warrant entered her apartment in Louisville, Kentucky. Gunfire was exchanged between Taylor's boyfriend Kenneth Walker and the officers. Walker said that he believed that the officers were intruders. The LMPD officers fired over twenty shots. Taylor was shot eight times. Walker was licensed to carry a firearm and fired first, injuring a law enforcement officer, whereupon police returned fire into the apartment with more than 20 rounds. According to a wrongful death lawsuit filed against the police by the Taylor family's attorney, the officers, who entered Taylor's home without knocking or announcing a search warrant, opened fire "with a total disregard for the value of human life." The police filed an incident report that stated that Taylor had no injuries and that no forced entry occurred. The police department said that technical errors led to a nearly entirely blank malformed report. As of August 10, LMPD has arrested 500 protesters over 75 days of protests. The cops who killed Breonna Taylor are still free. #thirsttrapforjustice #justiceforbreonnataylor #blacklivesmatter https://www.instagram.com/p/CD93j0NpdIR/?igshid=lx795cbrj3je

[wokeinmemphis-blog]

Breonna Taylor: Family lawyer slams ‘sham’ grand jury proceedings

Image copyright Getty Images

A lawyer for Breonna Taylor’s family has called the grand jury proceedings a “sham” that has shown racial inequalities in the US justice system.

Ms Taylor, a black hospital worker, was shot six times and killed aged 26 when police raided her home on 13 March.

On Wednesday, a grand jury in Kentucky returned a minor felony charge against one of three officers, for shots that hit a neighbouring apartment.

Two officers have been shot amid protests sparked by the decision.

The individual indicted in the Taylor case is Brett Hankison, who was fired from the force in June. He faces three counts of “wanton endangerment in the first degree”.

Under Kentucky law, wanton endangerment applies to an act of “extreme indifference to the value of human life”. It is the lowest-level felony and carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison per count.

Ms Taylor’s family had called for the arrest of all three officers, but the grand jury – a panel drawn from members of the public to determine whether there is enough evidence to pursue a prosecution – has declined to do so.

Media playback is unsupported on your device

Media captionLarge crowds demonstrated in Louisville over the decision not to prosecute police for Breonna Taylor’s killing

Attorney Ben Crump said in a tweet: “The grand jury proceedings were a SHAM. The ‘wanton endangerment’ charge is an example of America’s 2 justice systems – protecting white neighbours & ignoring the death of a black woman.”

“We’ve been saying ‘Say Her Name’ for six months… and #BreonnaTaylor’s name was NEVER mentioned in yesterday’s indictment,” he later added.

Image copyright Facebook

Image caption Breonna Taylor was an emergency medical technician

In an op-ed for the Washington Post titled “Our devilish, racist system made it impossible to get justice for Breonna Taylor”, Mr Crump rejected the notion that “every time justice is denied to a Black person in the United States, it seems the devil is in the details”.

Most police shootings go unnoticed by the public, he continued, adding: “We wouldn’t know Breonna’s name if her death hadn’t happened in a season of police killings when America was getting quickly woke to it.

“But now that the world knows Bre’s name, we won’t stop saying it until it becomes a kind of incantation to bind the devil in our divided justice system.”

The two other officers involved were justified in their actions, the Kentucky attorney general said on Wednesday.

One had been hit by a shot fired by Ms Taylor’s boyfriend, who later told police he thought it was an ex-boyfriend of Ms Taylor who had broken into the apartment.

A judge had granted 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 police have fuelled anger across the US and beyond, spurred especially by the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis in May.

What is happening in Louisville?

Protests were sparked across the US by anger over the grand jury decision. In Louisville, a state of emergency has been declared and the National Guard has been deployed.

A 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 arrests were for breaking the curfew.

The two police shot during the unrest on Wednesday were identified as Major Aubrey Gregory and Officer Robinson Desroches. Major Gregory has already been released from hospital, officials say, and Mr Desroches is recovering.

Twenty-six-year-old Larynzo Johnson has been arrested as the suspected gunman.

Image copyright Police handout

Image caption Larynzo Johnson is accused of shooting at police officers

According to the Associated Press, the attack happened as protesters were moving through an alleyway to avoid a police roadblock as officers threw pepper balls at them. As shots rang out, the crowd scattered to take cover as officers in riot gear and rifles swarmed the area.

Protests over the grand jury’s decision also took place in New York, Washington, Atlanta, and Chicago.

Media playback is unsupported on your device

Media captionKentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron presented the grand jury decision

What did officials say on Wednesday?

Following the decision, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron – the state’s top prosecutor – said there was “nothing I can offer [Ms Taylor’s family] today to take away the grief and heartache as a result of losing a child, a niece, a sister and a friend,” calling it a “gut-wrenching emotional case”.

Mr Cameron said a ballistics report had found that six bullets had struck 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 not clear if Mr Hankison’s shots had also hit Ms Taylor, but they had hit a neighbouring apartment.

He said Mr Cosgrove and the third officer, Jonathan Mattingly, had been “justified to protect themselves and the justification bars us from pursuing criminal charges”.

Image copyright LMPD

Image caption From left: Brett Hankison, Jonathan Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove

The FBI was still investigating potential violations of federal law in the case, Mr Cameron added.

What has been the reaction?

Ms Taylor’s relatives and activists had been calling for the three officers, who are all white, to be charged with murder or manslaughter.

When asked about the charges at a White House news conference, US President Donald Trump said he “thought it was really brilliant”.

He praised Kentucky’s attorney general, who addressed the Republican party convention last month, for “doing a fantastic job”.

Image copyright Reuters

Image caption Crowds of protesters marched through Brooklyn in New York, chanting Ms Taylor’s name

Mr Trump’s Democratic challenger for November’s election, Joe Biden, said the decision “does not answer” the call for justice, while telling protesters to act peacefully.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, a Democrat, urged prosecutors to release the evidence that was presented to the grand jury.

“I think having more of the facts out there so people can see, people can truly process it, is where we need to be,” he said.

Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, the most senior Democrat in Washington, said on Thursday that “justice was denied for Breonna Taylor and her family”.

Senator Kamala Harris, who is running for vice-president with Joe Biden, wrote on Twitter that Americans must “keep speaking Breonna Taylor’s name”.

What were the circumstances of Ms Taylor’s killing?

Plainclothes police, executing a search warrant, forced their way into the apartment where Breonna Taylor was in bed with her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, shortly after midnight.

Mr Walker fired a shot from his licensed gun, later telling police he thought that Ms Taylor’s ex-boyfriend, Jamarcus Glover, had broken in, according to the New York Times.

Officials say Mr Walker’s bullet struck Mr Mattingly in the leg. The three officers returned fire, discharging 32 rounds, according to a ballistics report from the FBI.

Ms Taylor was shot amid the commotion and died on the hallway floor.

A timeline of the shooting

Walker fires one bullet, hitting Mattingly in the leg moments after police take down the flat door with a battering ram

Mattingly returns fire, shooting six times at Walker and Taylor, who is standing beside him in her hallway

Cosgrove fires 16 shots from the doorway of Taylor’s home

Taylor is struck six times in a matter of seconds

Hankinson fires 10 shots through a patio door and window. His bullets enter the nextdoor flat

No drugs were found at the property, though Jefferson County Prosecutor Thomas Wine said the search was cancelled after the shooting.

A subsequent police report contained errors, including listing Ms Taylor’s injuries as “none” and saying no force was used to enter, when a battering ram had been used.

Mr Hankison was fired from the police after investigators found he had “wantonly and blindly fired 10 rounds” during the raid, according to his termination letter.

Mr Mattingly and Mr Cosgrove were reassigned to administrative duties.

The article was originally published here! Breonna Taylor: Family lawyer slams ‘sham’ grand jury proceedings

[redroses879-blog]

Breonna Taylor: Family lawyer slams ‘sham’ grand jury proceedings

Image copyright Getty Images

A lawyer for Breonna Taylor’s family has called the grand jury proceedings a “sham” that has shown racial inequalities in the US justice system.

Ms Taylor, a black hospital worker, was shot six times and killed aged 26 when police raided her home on 13 March.

On Wednesday, a grand jury in Kentucky returned a minor felony charge against one of three officers, for shots that hit a neighbouring apartment.

Two officers have been shot amid protests sparked by the decision.

The individual indicted in the Taylor case is Brett Hankison, who was fired from the force in June. He faces three counts of “wanton endangerment in the first degree”.

Under Kentucky law, wanton endangerment applies to an act of “extreme indifference to the value of human life”. It is the lowest-level felony and carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison per count.

Ms Taylor’s family had called for the arrest of all three officers, but the grand jury – a panel drawn from members of the public to determine whether there is enough evidence to pursue a prosecution – has declined to do so.

Media playback is unsupported on your device

Media captionLarge crowds demonstrated in Louisville over the decision not to prosecute police for Breonna Taylor’s killing

Attorney Ben Crump said in a tweet: “The grand jury proceedings were a SHAM. The ‘wanton endangerment’ charge is an example of America’s 2 justice systems – protecting white neighbours & ignoring the death of a black woman.”

“We’ve been saying ‘Say Her Name’ for six months… and #BreonnaTaylor’s name was NEVER mentioned in yesterday’s indictment,” he later added.

Image copyright Facebook

Image caption Breonna Taylor was an emergency medical technician

In an op-ed for the Washington Post titled “Our devilish, racist system made it impossible to get justice for Breonna Taylor”, Mr Crump rejected the notion that “every time justice is denied to a Black person in the United States, it seems the devil is in the details”.

Most police shootings go unnoticed by the public, he continued, adding: “We wouldn’t know Breonna’s name if her death hadn’t happened in a season of police killings when America was getting quickly woke to it.

“But now that the world knows Bre’s name, we won’t stop saying it until it becomes a kind of incantation to bind the devil in our divided justice system.”

The two other officers involved were justified in their actions, the Kentucky attorney general said on Wednesday.

One had been hit by a shot fired by Ms Taylor’s boyfriend, who later told police he thought it was an ex-boyfriend of Ms Taylor who had broken into the apartment.

A judge had granted 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 police have fuelled anger across the US and beyond, spurred especially by the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis in May.

What is happening in Louisville?

Protests were sparked across the US by anger over the grand jury decision. In Louisville, a state of emergency has been declared and the National Guard has been deployed.

A 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 arrests were for breaking the curfew.

The two police shot during the unrest on Wednesday were identified as Major Aubrey Gregory and Officer Robinson Desroches. Major Gregory has already been released from hospital, officials say, and Mr Desroches is recovering.

Twenty-six-year-old Larynzo Johnson has been arrested as the suspected gunman.

Image copyright Police handout

Image caption Larynzo Johnson is accused of shooting at police officers

According to the Associated Press, the attack happened as protesters were moving through an alleyway to avoid a police roadblock as officers threw pepper balls at them. As shots rang out, the crowd scattered to take cover as officers in riot gear and rifles swarmed the area.

Protests over the grand jury’s decision also took place in New York, Washington, Atlanta, and Chicago.

Media playback is unsupported on your device

Media captionKentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron presented the grand jury decision

What did officials say on Wednesday?

Following the decision, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron – the state’s top prosecutor – said there was “nothing I can offer [Ms Taylor’s family] today to take away the grief and heartache as a result of losing a child, a niece, a sister and a friend,” calling it a “gut-wrenching emotional case”.

Mr Cameron said a ballistics report had found that six bullets had struck 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 not clear if Mr Hankison’s shots had also hit Ms Taylor, but they had hit a neighbouring apartment.

He said Mr Cosgrove and the third officer, Jonathan Mattingly, had been “justified to protect themselves and the justification bars us from pursuing criminal charges”.

Image copyright LMPD

Image caption From left: Brett Hankison, Jonathan Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove

The FBI was still investigating potential violations of federal law in the case, Mr Cameron added.

What has been the reaction?

Ms Taylor’s relatives and activists had been calling for the three officers, who are all white, to be charged with murder or manslaughter.

When asked about the charges at a White House news conference, US President Donald Trump said he “thought it was really brilliant”.

He praised Kentucky’s attorney general, who addressed the Republican party convention last month, for “doing a fantastic job”.

Image copyright Reuters

Image caption Crowds of protesters marched through Brooklyn in New York, chanting Ms Taylor’s name

Mr Trump’s Democratic challenger for November’s election, Joe Biden, said the decision “does not answer” the call for justice, while telling protesters to act peacefully.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, a Democrat, urged prosecutors to release the evidence that was presented to the grand jury.

“I think having more of the facts out there so people can see, people can truly process it, is where we need to be,” he said.

Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, the most senior Democrat in Washington, said on Thursday that “justice was denied for Breonna Taylor and her family”.

Senator Kamala Harris, who is running for vice-president with Joe Biden, wrote on Twitter that Americans must “keep speaking Breonna Taylor’s name”.

What were the circumstances of Ms Taylor’s killing?

Plainclothes police, executing a search warrant, forced their way into the apartment where Breonna Taylor was in bed with her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, shortly after midnight.

Mr Walker fired a shot from his licensed gun, later telling police he thought that Ms Taylor’s ex-boyfriend, Jamarcus Glover, had broken in, according to the New York Times.

Officials say Mr Walker’s bullet struck Mr Mattingly in the leg. The three officers returned fire, discharging 32 rounds, according to a ballistics report from the FBI.

Ms Taylor was shot amid the commotion and died on the hallway floor.

A timeline of the shooting

Walker fires one bullet, hitting Mattingly in the leg moments after police take down the flat door with a battering ram

Mattingly returns fire, shooting six times at Walker and Taylor, who is standing beside him in her hallway

Cosgrove fires 16 shots from the doorway of Taylor’s home

Taylor is struck six times in a matter of seconds

Hankinson fires 10 shots through a patio door and window. His bullets enter the nextdoor flat

No drugs were found at the property, though Jefferson County Prosecutor Thomas Wine said the search was cancelled after the shooting.

A subsequent police report contained errors, including listing Ms Taylor’s injuries as “none” and saying no force was used to enter, when a battering ram had been used.

Mr Hankison was fired from the police after investigators found he had “wantonly and blindly fired 10 rounds” during the raid, according to his termination letter.

Mr Mattingly and Mr Cosgrove were reassigned to administrative duties.

The article was originally published here! Breonna Taylor: Family lawyer slams ‘sham’ grand jury proceedings

[arcadeparade-blog1]

Breonna Taylor: Family lawyer slams ‘sham’ grand jury proceedings

Image copyright Getty Images

A lawyer for Breonna Taylor’s family has called the grand jury proceedings a “sham�� that has shown racial inequalities in the US justice system.

Ms Taylor, a black hospital worker, was shot six times and killed aged 26 when police raided her home on 13 March.

On Wednesday, a grand jury in Kentucky returned a minor felony charge against one of three officers, for shots that hit a neighbouring apartment.

Two officers have been shot amid protests sparked by the decision.

The individual indicted in the Taylor case is Brett Hankison, who was fired from the force in June. He faces three counts of “wanton endangerment in the first degree”.

Under Kentucky law, wanton endangerment applies to an act of “extreme indifference to the value of human life”. It is the lowest-level felony and carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison per count.

Ms Taylor’s family had called for the arrest of all three officers, but the grand jury – a panel drawn from members of the public to determine whether there is enough evidence to pursue a prosecution – has declined to do so.

Media playback is unsupported on your device

Media captionLarge crowds demonstrated in Louisville over the decision not to prosecute police for Breonna Taylor’s killing

Attorney Ben Crump said in a tweet: “The grand jury proceedings were a SHAM. The ‘wanton endangerment’ charge is an example of America’s 2 justice systems – protecting white neighbours & ignoring the death of a black woman.”

“We’ve been saying ‘Say Her Name’ for six months… and #BreonnaTaylor’s name was NEVER mentioned in yesterday’s indictment,” he later added.

Image copyright Facebook

Image caption Breonna Taylor was an emergency medical technician

In an op-ed for the Washington Post titled “Our devilish, racist system made it impossible to get justice for Breonna Taylor”, Mr Crump rejected the notion that “every time justice is denied to a Black person in the United States, it seems the devil is in the details”.

Most police shootings go unnoticed by the public, he continued, adding: “We wouldn’t know Breonna’s name if her death hadn’t happened in a season of police killings when America was getting quickly woke to it.

“But now that the world knows Bre’s name, we won’t stop saying it until it becomes a kind of incantation to bind the devil in our divided justice system.”

The two other officers involved were justified in their actions, the Kentucky attorney general said on Wednesday.

One had been hit by a shot fired by Ms Taylor’s boyfriend, who later told police he thought it was an ex-boyfriend of Ms Taylor who had broken into the apartment.

A judge had granted 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 police have fuelled anger across the US and beyond, spurred especially by the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis in May.

What is happening in Louisville?

Protests were sparked across the US by anger over the grand jury decision. In Louisville, a state of emergency has been declared and the National Guard has been deployed.

A 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 arrests were for breaking the curfew.

The two police shot during the unrest on Wednesday were identified as Major Aubrey Gregory and Officer Robinson Desroches. Major Gregory has already been released from hospital, officials say, and Mr Desroches is recovering.

Twenty-six-year-old Larynzo Johnson has been arrested as the suspected gunman.

Image copyright Police handout

Image caption Larynzo Johnson is accused of shooting at police officers

According to the Associated Press, the attack happened as protesters were moving through an alleyway to avoid a police roadblock as officers threw pepper balls at them. As shots rang out, the crowd scattered to take cover as officers in riot gear and rifles swarmed the area.

Protests over the grand jury’s decision also took place in New York, Washington, Atlanta, and Chicago.

Media playback is unsupported on your device

Media captionKentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron presented the grand jury decision

What did officials say on Wednesday?

Following the decision, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron – the state’s top prosecutor – said there was “nothing I can offer [Ms Taylor’s family] today to take away the grief and heartache as a result of losing a child, a niece, a sister and a friend,” calling it a “gut-wrenching emotional case”.

Mr Cameron said a ballistics report had found that six bullets had struck 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 not clear if Mr Hankison’s shots had also hit Ms Taylor, but they had hit a neighbouring apartment.

He said Mr Cosgrove and the third officer, Jonathan Mattingly, had been “justified to protect themselves and the justification bars us from pursuing criminal charges”.

Image copyright LMPD

Image caption From left: Brett Hankison, Jonathan Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove

The FBI was still investigating potential violations of federal law in the case, Mr Cameron added.

What has been the reaction?

Ms Taylor’s relatives and activists had been calling for the three officers, who are all white, to be charged with murder or manslaughter.

When asked about the charges at a White House news conference, US President Donald Trump said he “thought it was really brilliant”.

He praised Kentucky’s attorney general, who addressed the Republican party convention last month, for “doing a fantastic job”.

Image copyright Reuters

Image caption Crowds of protesters marched through Brooklyn in New York, chanting Ms Taylor’s name

Mr Trump’s Democratic challenger for November’s election, Joe Biden, said the decision “does not answer” the call for justice, while telling protesters to act peacefully.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, a Democrat, urged prosecutors to release the evidence that was presented to the grand jury.

“I think having more of the facts out there so people can see, people can truly process it, is where we need to be,” he said.

Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, the most senior Democrat in Washington, said on Thursday that “justice was denied for Breonna Taylor and her family”.

Senator Kamala Harris, who is running for vice-president with Joe Biden, wrote on Twitter that Americans must “keep speaking Breonna Taylor’s name”.

What were the circumstances of Ms Taylor’s killing?

Plainclothes police, executing a search warrant, forced their way into the apartment where Breonna Taylor was in bed with her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, shortly after midnight.

Mr Walker fired a shot from his licensed gun, later telling police he thought that Ms Taylor’s ex-boyfriend, Jamarcus Glover, had broken in, according to the New York Times.

Officials say Mr Walker’s bullet struck Mr Mattingly in the leg. The three officers returned fire, discharging 32 rounds, according to a ballistics report from the FBI.

Ms Taylor was shot amid the commotion and died on the hallway floor.

A timeline of the shooting

Walker fires one bullet, hitting Mattingly in the leg moments after police take down the flat door with a battering ram

Mattingly returns fire, shooting six times at Walker and Taylor, who is standing beside him in her hallway

Cosgrove fires 16 shots from the doorway of Taylor’s home

Taylor is struck six times in a matter of seconds

Hankinson fires 10 shots through a patio door and window. His bullets enter the nextdoor flat

No drugs were found at the property, though Jefferson County Prosecutor Thomas Wine said the search was cancelled after the shooting.

A subsequent police report contained errors, including listing Ms Taylor’s injuries as “none” and saying no force was used to enter, when a battering ram had been used.

Mr Hankison was fired from the police after investigators found he had “wantonly and blindly fired 10 rounds” during the raid, according to his termination letter.

Mr Mattingly and Mr Cosgrove were reassigned to administrative duties.

The article was originally published here! Breonna Taylor: Family lawyer slams ‘sham’ grand jury proceedings

[asanusta-blog]

Breonna Taylor: Family lawyer slams ‘sham’ grand jury proceedings

Image copyright Getty Images

A lawyer for Breonna Taylor’s family has called the grand jury proceedings a “sham” that has shown racial inequalities in the US justice system.

Ms Taylor, a black hospital worker, was shot six times and killed aged 26 when police raided her home on 13 March.

On Wednesday, a grand jury in Kentucky returned a minor felony charge against one of three officers, for shots that hit a neighbouring apartment.

Two officers have been shot amid protests sparked by the decision.

The individual indicted in the Taylor case is Brett Hankison, who was fired from the force in June. He faces three counts of “wanton endangerment in the first degree”.

Under Kentucky law, wanton endangerment applies to an act of “extreme indifference to the value of human life”. It is the lowest-level felony and carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison per count.

Ms Taylor’s family had called for the arrest of all three officers, but the grand jury – a panel drawn from members of the public to determine whether there is enough evidence to pursue a prosecution – has declined to do so.

Media playback is unsupported on your device

Media captionLarge crowds demonstrated in Louisville over the decision not to prosecute police for Breonna Taylor’s killing

Attorney Ben Crump said in a tweet: “The grand jury proceedings were a SHAM. The ‘wanton endangerment’ charge is an example of America’s 2 justice systems – protecting white neighbours & ignoring the death of a black woman.”

“We’ve been saying ‘Say Her Name’ for six months… and #BreonnaTaylor’s name was NEVER mentioned in yesterday’s indictment,” he later added.

Image copyright Facebook

Image caption Breonna Taylor was an emergency medical technician

In an op-ed for the Washington Post titled “Our devilish, racist system made it impossible to get justice for Breonna Taylor”, Mr Crump rejected the notion that “every time justice is denied to a Black person in the United States, it seems the devil is in the details”.

Most police shootings go unnoticed by the public, he continued, adding: “We wouldn’t know Breonna’s name if her death hadn’t happened in a season of police killings when America was getting quickly woke to it.

“But now that the world knows Bre’s name, we won’t stop saying it until it becomes a kind of incantation to bind the devil in our divided justice system.”

The two other officers involved were justified in their actions, the Kentucky attorney general said on Wednesday.

One had been hit by a shot fired by Ms Taylor’s boyfriend, who later told police he thought it was an ex-boyfriend of Ms Taylor who had broken into the apartment.

A judge had granted 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 police have fuelled anger across the US and beyond, spurred especially by the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis in May.

What is happening in Louisville?

Protests were sparked across the US by anger over the grand jury decision. In Louisville, a state of emergency has been declared and the National Guard has been deployed.

A 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 arrests were for breaking the curfew.

The two police shot during the unrest on Wednesday were identified as Major Aubrey Gregory and Officer Robinson Desroches. Major Gregory has already been released from hospital, officials say, and Mr Desroches is recovering.

Twenty-six-year-old Larynzo Johnson has been arrested as the suspected gunman.

Image copyright Police handout

Image caption Larynzo Johnson is accused of shooting at police officers

According to the Associated Press, the attack happened as protesters were moving through an alleyway to avoid a police roadblock as officers threw pepper balls at them. As shots rang out, the crowd scattered to take cover as officers in riot gear and rifles swarmed the area.

Protests over the grand jury’s decision also took place in New York, Washington, Atlanta, and Chicago.

Media playback is unsupported on your device

Media captionKentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron presented the grand jury decision

What did officials say on Wednesday?

Following the decision, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron – the state’s top prosecutor – said there was “nothing I can offer [Ms Taylor’s family] today to take away the grief and heartache as a result of losing a child, a niece, a sister and a friend,” calling it a “gut-wrenching emotional case”.

Mr Cameron said a ballistics report had found that six bullets had struck 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 not clear if Mr Hankison’s shots had also hit Ms Taylor, but they had hit a neighbouring apartment.

He said Mr Cosgrove and the third officer, Jonathan Mattingly, had been “justified to protect themselves and the justification bars us from pursuing criminal charges”.

Image copyright LMPD

Image caption From left: Brett Hankison, Jonathan Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove

The FBI was still investigating potential violations of federal law in the case, Mr Cameron added.

What has been the reaction?

Ms Taylor’s relatives and activists had been calling for the three officers, who are all white, to be charged with murder or manslaughter.

When asked about the charges at a White House news conference, US President Donald Trump said he “thought it was really brilliant”.

He praised Kentucky’s attorney general, who addressed the Republican party convention last month, for “doing a fantastic job”.

Image copyright Reuters

Image caption Crowds of protesters marched through Brooklyn in New York, chanting Ms Taylor’s name

Mr Trump’s Democratic challenger for November’s election, Joe Biden, said the decision “does not answer” the call for justice, while telling protesters to act peacefully.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, a Democrat, urged prosecutors to release the evidence that was presented to the grand jury.

“I think having more of the facts out there so people can see, people can truly process it, is where we need to be,” he said.

Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, the most senior Democrat in Washington, said on Thursday that “justice was denied for Breonna Taylor and her family”.

Senator Kamala Harris, who is running for vice-president with Joe Biden, wrote on Twitter that Americans must “keep speaking Breonna Taylor’s name”.

What were the circumstances of Ms Taylor’s killing?

Plainclothes police, executing a search warrant, forced their way into the apartment where Breonna Taylor was in bed with her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, shortly after midnight.

Mr Walker fired a shot from his licensed gun, later telling police he thought that Ms Taylor’s ex-boyfriend, Jamarcus Glover, had broken in, according to the New York Times.

Officials say Mr Walker’s bullet struck Mr Mattingly in the leg. The three officers returned fire, discharging 32 rounds, according to a ballistics report from the FBI.

Ms Taylor was shot amid the commotion and died on the hallway floor.

A timeline of the shooting

Walker fires one bullet, hitting Mattingly in the leg moments after police take down the flat door with a battering ram

Mattingly returns fire, shooting six times at Walker and Taylor, who is standing beside him in her hallway

Cosgrove fires 16 shots from the doorway of Taylor’s home

Taylor is struck six times in a matter of seconds

Hankinson fires 10 shots through a patio door and window. His bullets enter the nextdoor flat

No drugs were found at the property, though Jefferson County Prosecutor Thomas Wine said the search was cancelled after the shooting.

A subsequent police report contained errors, including listing Ms Taylor’s injuries as “none” and saying no force was used to enter, when a battering ram had been used.

Mr Hankison was fired from the police after investigators found he had “wantonly and blindly fired 10 rounds” during the raid, according to his termination letter.

Mr Mattingly and Mr Cosgrove were reassigned to administrative duties.

The article was originally published here! Breonna Taylor: Family lawyer slams ‘sham’ grand jury proceedings

[breenwillifordinjurylaw]

SOME OF THE LESSER-KNOWN REASONS TRACTOR-TRAILER CRASHES OCCUR

SOME OF THE LESSER-KNOWN REASONS TRACTOR-TRAILER CRASHES OCCUR

While it would be easy to blame big rig crashes on a trucker’s careless, aggressive or distracted driving, the large majority of 18-wheeler operators adhere to safety standards. They do so because their livelihoods depend on it.

Instead, they’re those other factors that you don’t hear about that contribute to the more than 475,000 big rig crashes annually. Those wrecks kill at least 5,000 and injure another 140,000 each year.

As for one factors that seems to impact the rate of tractor-trailer crashes, statistics show that poor decision making by passenger car operators ranks high. In fact, humor errors, such as driving in a trucker’s blind spot, are to blame for 70 percent of all catastrophic tractor-trailer crashes.

Among that same 70 percent, at least 29 percent of all tractor-trailer collisions involve head-on accidents. Crash investigations often show that it was the motorist who became distracted or fatigued and crossed the roadway’s center line prior to the collision. In other cases, a motorist attempts to pass a trucker only to not allow enough time to do so.

Another near 30 percent of truck crashes involve motorists rear-ending an 18-wheeler or causing the trucker to run into them. Operating a big rig requires them to have a significant amount of time to stop their truck and motorists often neglect to give them the space they need. Likewise, vehicle operators attempt to stop quickly, not realizing that they could get crushed beneath the tractor-trailer.

Other factors that seem to impact whether a truck crash will occur include what day of the week it is. Thursdays and Fridays, the final two days of the weekly hauling schedule, tend to be the most error-ridden and deadly. And, the time frame between 6:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., the busiest time frame of the day on the roadway, happens to be the most dangerous.

Interestingly, interstates are not the most dangerous places for truck crashes, but instead main roadways are. In fact, 53 percent of all tractor-trailer-related fatalities occur in major roads as compared to only 30 percent on interstates.

If you’ve been involved in a permanently disabling crash with a tractor-trailer, then you may benefit from discussing your case with a Bowling Green, Kentucky, truck crash attorney. In doing so, he or she may be able to help you recover both lost and future wages as well medical costs.

[justicestartshere]

WHEN TO HIRE AN AUTO COLLISION INJURY LAWYER

After being injured in an accident, people are often wondering when they should hire an auto collision injury lawyer. As experienced injury attorneys, we can’t how stress how important it is to hire legal representation before you begin negotiating with the insurance companies.

Auto insurance companies have a team of lawyers and adjusters who start evaluating your accident claim immediately. They are always working to find a way to not pay injury claims. You need a team on your side who is capable and ready to take on these billion-dollar insurance companies.

By speaking to our team of auto collision injury lawyers soon after your accident, we can guide you so that you get the best possible outcome in your case. We’ll help you understand what your legal options are and help take on the insurance companies.

Be aware that not all personal injury firms are the same. When facing the insurance companies, you need someone with experience who is representing your best interest. There are many firms out there who are just looking to make a quick settlement. These types of firms are just looking for a high volume of cases.

At Hendy | Johnson | Vaughn | Emery we are here for our clients every step of the way. Our mission is to provide the best possible outcome for your auto collision injury case. We don’t want you to take on the burden of mounting medical bills and unpaid wages alone.

Let us help you seek recoveries for your auto collision, including:

Medical bills and lost wages

Cost for future medical treatment

Amounts for any impairment of your ability to work in the future

Pain, suffering and mental anguish for what you’ve gone through, including any loss of enjoyment of life

Pain, suffering and mental anguish that will continue into the future

If you’ve been injured in an auto collision, contact our team today. We’ll review your case and give you an honest opinion on what your options are.

Get more info : Visit Here : Medical Error Attorneys in Kentucky

[sophistikatedblogger-blog]

Breonna Taylor: Family lawyer slams ‘sham’ grand jury proceedings

Image copyright Getty Images

A lawyer for Breonna Taylor’s family has called the grand jury proceedings a “sham” that has shown racial inequalities in the US justice system.

Ms Taylor, a black hospital worker, was shot six times and killed aged 26 when police raided her home on 13 March.

On Wednesday, a grand jury in Kentucky returned a minor felony charge against one of three officers, for shots that hit a neighbouring apartment.

Two officers have been shot amid protests sparked by the decision.

The individual indicted in the Taylor case is Brett Hankison, who was fired from the force in June. He faces three counts of “wanton endangerment in the first degree”.

Under Kentucky law, wanton endangerment applies to an act of “extreme indifference to the value of human life”. It is the lowest-level felony and carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison per count.

Ms Taylor’s family had called for the arrest of all three officers, but the grand jury – a panel drawn from members of the public to determine whether there is enough evidence to pursue a prosecution – has declined to do so.

Media playback is unsupported on your device

Media captionLarge crowds demonstrated in Louisville over the decision not to prosecute police for Breonna Taylor’s killing

Attorney Ben Crump said in a tweet: “The grand jury proceedings were a SHAM. The ‘wanton endangerment’ charge is an example of America’s 2 justice systems – protecting white neighbours & ignoring the death of a black woman.”

“We’ve been saying ‘Say Her Name’ for six months… and #BreonnaTaylor’s name was NEVER mentioned in yesterday’s indictment,” he later added.

Image copyright Facebook

Image caption Breonna Taylor was an emergency medical technician

In an op-ed for the Washington Post titled “Our devilish, racist system made it impossible to get justice for Breonna Taylor”, Mr Crump rejected the notion that “every time justice is denied to a Black person in the United States, it seems the devil is in the details”.

Most police shootings go unnoticed by the public, he continued, adding: “We wouldn’t know Breonna’s name if her death hadn’t happened in a season of police killings when America was getting quickly woke to it.

“But now that the world knows Bre’s name, we won’t stop saying it until it becomes a kind of incantation to bind the devil in our divided justice system.”

The two other officers involved were justified in their actions, the Kentucky attorney general said on Wednesday.

One had been hit by a shot fired by Ms Taylor’s boyfriend, who later told police he thought it was an ex-boyfriend of Ms Taylor who had broken into the apartment.

A judge had granted 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 police have fuelled anger across the US and beyond, spurred especially by the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis in May.

What is happening in Louisville?

Protests were sparked across the US by anger over the grand jury decision. In Louisville, a state of emergency has been declared and the National Guard has been deployed.

A 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 arrests were for breaking the curfew.

The two police shot during the unrest on Wednesday were identified as Major Aubrey Gregory and Officer Robinson Desroches. Major Gregory has already been released from hospital, officials say, and Mr Desroches is recovering.

Twenty-six-year-old Larynzo Johnson has been arrested as the suspected gunman.

Image copyright Police handout

Image caption Larynzo Johnson is accused of shooting at police officers

According to the Associated Press, the attack happened as protesters were moving through an alleyway to avoid a police roadblock as officers threw pepper balls at them. As shots rang out, the crowd scattered to take cover as officers in riot gear and rifles swarmed the area.

Protests over the grand jury’s decision also took place in New York, Washington, Atlanta, and Chicago.

Media playback is unsupported on your device

Media captionKentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron presented the grand jury decision

What did officials say on Wednesday?

Following the decision, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron – the state’s top prosecutor – said there was “nothing I can offer [Ms Taylor’s family] today to take away the grief and heartache as a result of losing a child, a niece, a sister and a friend,” calling it a “gut-wrenching emotional case”.

Mr Cameron said a ballistics report had found that six bullets had struck 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 not clear if Mr Hankison’s shots had also hit Ms Taylor, but they had hit a neighbouring apartment.

He said Mr Cosgrove and the third officer, Jonathan Mattingly, had been “justified to protect themselves and the justification bars us from pursuing criminal charges”.

Image copyright LMPD

Image caption From left: Brett Hankison, Jonathan Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove

The FBI was still investigating potential violations of federal law in the case, Mr Cameron added.

What has been the reaction?

Ms Taylor’s relatives and activists had been calling for the three officers, who are all white, to be charged with murder or manslaughter.

When asked about the charges at a White House news conference, US President Donald Trump said he “thought it was really brilliant”.

He praised Kentucky’s attorney general, who addressed the Republican party convention last month, for “doing a fantastic job”.

Image copyright Reuters

Image caption Crowds of protesters marched through Brooklyn in New York, chanting Ms Taylor’s name

Mr Trump’s Democratic challenger for November’s election, Joe Biden, said the decision “does not answer” the call for justice, while telling protesters to act peacefully.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, a Democrat, urged prosecutors to release the evidence that was presented to the grand jury.

“I think having more of the facts out there so people can see, people can truly process it, is where we need to be,” he said.

Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, the most senior Democrat in Washington, said on Thursday that “justice was denied for Breonna Taylor and her family”.

Senator Kamala Harris, who is running for vice-president with Joe Biden, wrote on Twitter that Americans must “keep speaking Breonna Taylor’s name”.

What were the circumstances of Ms Taylor’s killing?

Plainclothes police, executing a search warrant, forced their way into the apartment where Breonna Taylor was in bed with her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, shortly after midnight.

Mr Walker fired a shot from his licensed gun, later telling police he thought that Ms Taylor’s ex-boyfriend, Jamarcus Glover, had broken in, according to the New York Times.

Officials say Mr Walker’s bullet struck Mr Mattingly in the leg. The three officers returned fire, discharging 32 rounds, according to a ballistics report from the FBI.

Ms Taylor was shot amid the commotion and died on the hallway floor.

A timeline of the shooting

Walker fires one bullet, hitting Mattingly in the leg moments after police take down the flat door with a battering ram

Mattingly returns fire, shooting six times at Walker and Taylor, who is standing beside him in her hallway

Cosgrove fires 16 shots from the doorway of Taylor’s home

Taylor is struck six times in a matter of seconds

Hankinson fires 10 shots through a patio door and window. His bullets enter the nextdoor flat

No drugs were found at the property, though Jefferson County Prosecutor Thomas Wine said the search was cancelled after the shooting.

A subsequent police report contained errors, including listing Ms Taylor’s injuries as “none” and saying no force was used to enter, when a battering ram had been used.

Mr Hankison was fired from the police after investigators found he had “wantonly and blindly fired 10 rounds” during the raid, according to his termination letter.

Mr Mattingly and Mr Cosgrove were reassigned to administrative duties.

The article was originally published here! Breonna Taylor: Family lawyer slams ‘sham’ grand jury proceedings

[pooki-chu-blog]

Breonna Taylor: Family lawyer slams ‘sham’ grand jury proceedings

Image copyright Getty Images

A lawyer for Breonna Taylor’s family has called the grand jury proceedings a “sham” that has shown racial inequalities in the US justice system.

Ms Taylor, a black hospital worker, was shot six times and killed aged 26 when police raided her home on 13 March.

On Wednesday, a grand jury in Kentucky returned a minor felony charge against one of three officers, for shots that hit a neighbouring apartment.

Two officers have been shot amid protests sparked by the decision.

The individual indicted in the Taylor case is Brett Hankison, who was fired from the force in June. He faces three counts of “wanton endangerment in the first degree”.

Under Kentucky law, wanton endangerment applies to an act of “extreme indifference to the value of human life”. It is the lowest-level felony and carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison per count.

Ms Taylor’s family had called for the arrest of all three officers, but the grand jury – a panel drawn from members of the public to determine whether there is enough evidence to pursue a prosecution – has declined to do so.

Media playback is unsupported on your device

Media captionLarge crowds demonstrated in Louisville over the decision not to prosecute police for Breonna Taylor’s killing

Attorney Ben Crump said in a tweet: “The grand jury proceedings were a SHAM. The ‘wanton endangerment’ charge is an example of America’s 2 justice systems – protecting white neighbours & ignoring the death of a black woman.”

“We’ve been saying ‘Say Her Name’ for six months… and #BreonnaTaylor’s name was NEVER mentioned in yesterday’s indictment,” he later added.

Image copyright Facebook

Image caption Breonna Taylor was an emergency medical technician

In an op-ed for the Washington Post titled “Our devilish, racist system made it impossible to get justice for Breonna Taylor”, Mr Crump rejected the notion that “every time justice is denied to a Black person in the United States, it seems the devil is in the details”.

Most police shootings go unnoticed by the public, he continued, adding: “We wouldn’t know Breonna’s name if her death hadn’t happened in a season of police killings when America was getting quickly woke to it.

“But now that the world knows Bre’s name, we won’t stop saying it until it becomes a kind of incantation to bind the devil in our divided justice system.”

The two other officers involved were justified in their actions, the Kentucky attorney general said on Wednesday.

One had been hit by a shot fired by Ms Taylor’s boyfriend, who later told police he thought it was an ex-boyfriend of Ms Taylor who had broken into the apartment.

A judge had granted 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 police have fuelled anger across the US and beyond, spurred especially by the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis in May.

What is happening in Louisville?

Protests were sparked across the US by anger over the grand jury decision. In Louisville, a state of emergency has been declared and the National Guard has been deployed.

A 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 arrests were for breaking the curfew.

The two police shot during the unrest on Wednesday were identified as Major Aubrey Gregory and Officer Robinson Desroches. Major Gregory has already been released from hospital, officials say, and Mr Desroches is recovering.

Twenty-six-year-old Larynzo Johnson has been arrested as the suspected gunman.

Image copyright Police handout

Image caption Larynzo Johnson is accused of shooting at police officers

According to the Associated Press, the attack happened as protesters were moving through an alleyway to avoid a police roadblock as officers threw pepper balls at them. As shots rang out, the crowd scattered to take cover as officers in riot gear and rifles swarmed the area.

Protests over the grand jury’s decision also took place in New York, Washington, Atlanta, and Chicago.

Media playback is unsupported on your device

Media captionKentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron presented the grand jury decision

What did officials say on Wednesday?

Following the decision, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron – the state’s top prosecutor – said there was “nothing I can offer [Ms Taylor’s family] today to take away the grief and heartache as a result of losing a child, a niece, a sister and a friend,” calling it a “gut-wrenching emotional case”.

Mr Cameron said a ballistics report had found that six bullets had struck 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 not clear if Mr Hankison’s shots had also hit Ms Taylor, but they had hit a neighbouring apartment.

He said Mr Cosgrove and the third officer, Jonathan Mattingly, had been “justified to protect themselves and the justification bars us from pursuing criminal charges”.

Image copyright LMPD

Image caption From left: Brett Hankison, Jonathan Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove

The FBI was still investigating potential violations of federal law in the case, Mr Cameron added.

What has been the reaction?

Ms Taylor’s relatives and activists had been calling for the three officers, who are all white, to be charged with murder or manslaughter.

When asked about the charges at a White House news conference, US President Donald Trump said he “thought it was really brilliant”.

He praised Kentucky’s attorney general, who addressed the Republican party convention last month, for “doing a fantastic job”.

Image copyright Reuters

Image caption Crowds of protesters marched through Brooklyn in New York, chanting Ms Taylor’s name

Mr Trump’s Democratic challenger for November’s election, Joe Biden, said the decision “does not answer” the call for justice, while telling protesters to act peacefully.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, a Democrat, urged prosecutors to release the evidence that was presented to the grand jury.

“I think having more of the facts out there so people can see, people can truly process it, is where we need to be,” he said.

Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, the most senior Democrat in Washington, said on Thursday that “justice was denied for Breonna Taylor and her family”.

Senator Kamala Harris, who is running for vice-president with Joe Biden, wrote on Twitter that Americans must “keep speaking Breonna Taylor’s name”.

What were the circumstances of Ms Taylor’s killing?

Plainclothes police, executing a search warrant, forced their way into the apartment where Breonna Taylor was in bed with her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, shortly after midnight.

Mr Walker fired a shot from his licensed gun, later telling police he thought that Ms Taylor’s ex-boyfriend, Jamarcus Glover, had broken in, according to the New York Times.

Officials say Mr Walker’s bullet struck Mr Mattingly in the leg. The three officers returned fire, discharging 32 rounds, according to a ballistics report from the FBI.

Ms Taylor was shot amid the commotion and died on the hallway floor.

A timeline of the shooting

Walker fires one bullet, hitting Mattingly in the leg moments after police take down the flat door with a battering ram

Mattingly returns fire, shooting six times at Walker and Taylor, who is standing beside him in her hallway

Cosgrove fires 16 shots from the doorway of Taylor’s home

Taylor is struck six times in a matter of seconds

Hankinson fires 10 shots through a patio door and window. His bullets enter the nextdoor flat

No drugs were found at the property, though Jefferson County Prosecutor Thomas Wine said the search was cancelled after the shooting.

A subsequent police report contained errors, including listing Ms Taylor’s injuries as “none” and saying no force was used to enter, when a battering ram had been used.

Mr Hankison was fired from the police after investigators found he had “wantonly and blindly fired 10 rounds” during the raid, according to his termination letter.

Mr Mattingly and Mr Cosgrove were reassigned to administrative duties.

The article was originally published here! Breonna Taylor: Family lawyer slams ‘sham’ grand jury proceedings

[crashinthefastlane-blog]

Breonna Taylor: Family lawyer slams ‘sham’ grand jury proceedings

Image copyright Getty Images

A lawyer for Breonna Taylor’s family has called the grand jury proceedings a “sham” that has shown racial inequalities in the US justice system.

Ms Taylor, a black hospital worker, was shot six times and killed aged 26 when police raided her home on 13 March.

On Wednesday, a grand jury in Kentucky returned a minor felony charge against one of three officers, for shots that hit a neighbouring apartment.

Two officers have been shot amid protests sparked by the decision.

The individual indicted in the Taylor case is Brett Hankison, who was fired from the force in June. He faces three counts of “wanton endangerment in the first degree”.

Under Kentucky law, wanton endangerment applies to an act of “extreme indifference to the value of human life”. It is the lowest-level felony and carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison per count.

Ms Taylor’s family had called for the arrest of all three officers, but the grand jury – a panel drawn from members of the public to determine whether there is enough evidence to pursue a prosecution – has declined to do so.

Media playback is unsupported on your device

Media captionLarge crowds demonstrated in Louisville over the decision not to prosecute police for Breonna Taylor’s killing

Attorney Ben Crump said in a tweet: “The grand jury proceedings were a SHAM. The ‘wanton endangerment’ charge is an example of America’s 2 justice systems – protecting white neighbours & ignoring the death of a black woman.”

“We’ve been saying ‘Say Her Name’ for six months… and #BreonnaTaylor’s name was NEVER mentioned in yesterday’s indictment,” he later added.

Image copyright Facebook

Image caption Breonna Taylor was an emergency medical technician

In an op-ed for the Washington Post titled “Our devilish, racist system made it impossible to get justice for Breonna Taylor”, Mr Crump rejected the notion that “every time justice is denied to a Black person in the United States, it seems the devil is in the details”.

Most police shootings go unnoticed by the public, he continued, adding: “We wouldn’t know Breonna’s name if her death hadn’t happened in a season of police killings when America was getting quickly woke to it.

“But now that the world knows Bre’s name, we won’t stop saying it until it becomes a kind of incantation to bind the devil in our divided justice system.”

The two other officers involved were justified in their actions, the Kentucky attorney general said on Wednesday.

One had been hit by a shot fired by Ms Taylor’s boyfriend, who later told police he thought it was an ex-boyfriend of Ms Taylor who had broken into the apartment.

A judge had granted 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 police have fuelled anger across the US and beyond, spurred especially by the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis in May.

What is happening in Louisville?

Protests were sparked across the US by anger over the grand jury decision. In Louisville, a state of emergency has been declared and the National Guard has been deployed.

A 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 arrests were for breaking the curfew.

The two police shot during the unrest on Wednesday were identified as Major Aubrey Gregory and Officer Robinson Desroches. Major Gregory has already been released from hospital, officials say, and Mr Desroches is recovering.

Twenty-six-year-old Larynzo Johnson has been arrested as the suspected gunman.

Image copyright Police handout

Image caption Larynzo Johnson is accused of shooting at police officers

According to the Associated Press, the attack happened as protesters were moving through an alleyway to avoid a police roadblock as officers threw pepper balls at them. As shots rang out, the crowd scattered to take cover as officers in riot gear and rifles swarmed the area.

Protests over the grand jury’s decision also took place in New York, Washington, Atlanta, and Chicago.

Media playback is unsupported on your device

Media captionKentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron presented the grand jury decision

What did officials say on Wednesday?

Following the decision, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron – the state’s top prosecutor – said there was “nothing I can offer [Ms Taylor’s family] today to take away the grief and heartache as a result of losing a child, a niece, a sister and a friend,” calling it a “gut-wrenching emotional case”.

Mr Cameron said a ballistics report had found that six bullets had struck 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 not clear if Mr Hankison’s shots had also hit Ms Taylor, but they had hit a neighbouring apartment.

He said Mr Cosgrove and the third officer, Jonathan Mattingly, had been “justified to protect themselves and the justification bars us from pursuing criminal charges”.

Image copyright LMPD

Image caption From left: Brett Hankison, Jonathan Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove

The FBI was still investigating potential violations of federal law in the case, Mr Cameron added.

What has been the reaction?

Ms Taylor’s relatives and activists had been calling for the three officers, who are all white, to be charged with murder or manslaughter.

When asked about the charges at a White House news conference, US President Donald Trump said he “thought it was really brilliant”.

He praised Kentucky’s attorney general, who addressed the Republican party convention last month, for “doing a fantastic job”.

Image copyright Reuters

Image caption Crowds of protesters marched through Brooklyn in New York, chanting Ms Taylor’s name

Mr Trump’s Democratic challenger for November’s election, Joe Biden, said the decision “does not answer” the call for justice, while telling protesters to act peacefully.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, a Democrat, urged prosecutors to release the evidence that was presented to the grand jury.

“I think having more of the facts out there so people can see, people can truly process it, is where we need to be,” he said.

Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, the most senior Democrat in Washington, said on Thursday that “justice was denied for Breonna Taylor and her family”.

Senator Kamala Harris, who is running for vice-president with Joe Biden, wrote on Twitter that Americans must “keep speaking Breonna Taylor’s name”.

What were the circumstances of Ms Taylor’s killing?

Plainclothes police, executing a search warrant, forced their way into the apartment where Breonna Taylor was in bed with her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, shortly after midnight.

Mr Walker fired a shot from his licensed gun, later telling police he thought that Ms Taylor’s ex-boyfriend, Jamarcus Glover, had broken in, according to the New York Times.

Officials say Mr Walker’s bullet struck Mr Mattingly in the leg. The three officers returned fire, discharging 32 rounds, according to a ballistics report from the FBI.

Ms Taylor was shot amid the commotion and died on the hallway floor.

A timeline of the shooting

Walker fires one bullet, hitting Mattingly in the leg moments after police take down the flat door with a battering ram

Mattingly returns fire, shooting six times at Walker and Taylor, who is standing beside him in her hallway

Cosgrove fires 16 shots from the doorway of Taylor’s home

Taylor is struck six times in a matter of seconds

Hankinson fires 10 shots through a patio door and window. His bullets enter the nextdoor flat

No drugs were found at the property, though Jefferson County Prosecutor Thomas Wine said the search was cancelled after the shooting.

A subsequent police report contained errors, including listing Ms Taylor’s injuries as “none” and saying no force was used to enter, when a battering ram had been used.

Mr Hankison was fired from the police after investigators found he had “wantonly and blindly fired 10 rounds” during the raid, according to his termination letter.

Mr Mattingly and Mr Cosgrove were reassigned to administrative duties.

The article was originally published here! Breonna Taylor: Family lawyer slams ‘sham’ grand jury proceedings

[quebrando-promesas-blog1]

Breonna Taylor: Family lawyer slams ‘sham’ grand jury proceedings

Image copyright Getty Images

A lawyer for Breonna Taylor’s family has called the grand jury proceedings a “sham” that has shown racial inequalities in the US justice system.

Ms Taylor, a black hospital worker, was shot six times and killed aged 26 when police raided her home on 13 March.

On Wednesday, a grand jury in Kentucky returned a minor felony charge against one of three officers, for shots that hit a neighbouring apartment.

Two officers have been shot amid protests sparked by the decision.

The individual indicted in the Taylor case is Brett Hankison, who was fired from the force in June. He faces three counts of “wanton endangerment in the first degree”.

Under Kentucky law, wanton endangerment applies to an act of “extreme indifference to the value of human life”. It is the lowest-level felony and carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison per count.

Ms Taylor’s family had called for the arrest of all three officers, but the grand jury – a panel drawn from members of the public to determine whether there is enough evidence to pursue a prosecution – has declined to do so.

Media playback is unsupported on your device

Media captionLarge crowds demonstrated in Louisville over the decision not to prosecute police for Breonna Taylor’s killing

Attorney Ben Crump said in a tweet: “The grand jury proceedings were a SHAM. The ‘wanton endangerment’ charge is an example of America’s 2 justice systems – protecting white neighbours & ignoring the death of a black woman.”

“We’ve been saying ‘Say Her Name’ for six months… and #BreonnaTaylor’s name was NEVER mentioned in yesterday’s indictment,” he later added.

Image copyright Facebook

Image caption Breonna Taylor was an emergency medical technician

In an op-ed for the Washington Post titled “Our devilish, racist system made it impossible to get justice for Breonna Taylor”, Mr Crump rejected the notion that “every time justice is denied to a Black person in the United States, it seems the devil is in the details”.

Most police shootings go unnoticed by the public, he continued, adding: “We wouldn’t know Breonna’s name if her death hadn’t happened in a season of police killings when America was getting quickly woke to it.

“But now that the world knows Bre’s name, we won’t stop saying it until it becomes a kind of incantation to bind the devil in our divided justice system.”

The two other officers involved were justified in their actions, the Kentucky attorney general said on Wednesday.

One had been hit by a shot fired by Ms Taylor’s boyfriend, who later told police he thought it was an ex-boyfriend of Ms Taylor who had broken into the apartment.

A judge had granted 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 police have fuelled anger across the US and beyond, spurred especially by the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis in May.

What is happening in Louisville?

Protests were sparked across the US by anger over the grand jury decision. In Louisville, a state of emergency has been declared and the National Guard has been deployed.

A 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 arrests were for breaking the curfew.

The two police shot during the unrest on Wednesday were identified as Major Aubrey Gregory and Officer Robinson Desroches. Major Gregory has already been released from hospital, officials say, and Mr Desroches is recovering.

Twenty-six-year-old Larynzo Johnson has been arrested as the suspected gunman.

Image copyright Police handout

Image caption Larynzo Johnson is accused of shooting at police officers

According to the Associated Press, the attack happened as protesters were moving through an alleyway to avoid a police roadblock as officers threw pepper balls at them. As shots rang out, the crowd scattered to take cover as officers in riot gear and rifles swarmed the area.

Protests over the grand jury’s decision also took place in New York, Washington, Atlanta, and Chicago.

Media playback is unsupported on your device

Media captionKentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron presented the grand jury decision

What did officials say on Wednesday?

Following the decision, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron – the state’s top prosecutor – said there was “nothing I can offer [Ms Taylor’s family] today to take away the grief and heartache as a result of losing a child, a niece, a sister and a friend,” calling it a “gut-wrenching emotional case”.

Mr Cameron said a ballistics report had found that six bullets had struck 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 not clear if Mr Hankison’s shots had also hit Ms Taylor, but they had hit a neighbouring apartment.

He said Mr Cosgrove and the third officer, Jonathan Mattingly, had been “justified to protect themselves and the justification bars us from pursuing criminal charges”.

Image copyright LMPD

Image caption From left: Brett Hankison, Jonathan Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove

The FBI was still investigating potential violations of federal law in the case, Mr Cameron added.

What has been the reaction?

Ms Taylor’s relatives and activists had been calling for the three officers, who are all white, to be charged with murder or manslaughter.

When asked about the charges at a White House news conference, US President Donald Trump said he “thought it was really brilliant”.

He praised Kentucky’s attorney general, who addressed the Republican party convention last month, for “doing a fantastic job”.

Image copyright Reuters

Image caption Crowds of protesters marched through Brooklyn in New York, chanting Ms Taylor’s name

Mr Trump’s Democratic challenger for November’s election, Joe Biden, said the decision “does not answer” the call for justice, while telling protesters to act peacefully.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, a Democrat, urged prosecutors to release the evidence that was presented to the grand jury.

“I think having more of the facts out there so people can see, people can truly process it, is where we need to be,” he said.

Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, the most senior Democrat in Washington, said on Thursday that “justice was denied for Breonna Taylor and her family”.

Senator Kamala Harris, who is running for vice-president with Joe Biden, wrote on Twitter that Americans must “keep speaking Breonna Taylor’s name”.

What were the circumstances of Ms Taylor’s killing?

Plainclothes police, executing a search warrant, forced their way into the apartment where Breonna Taylor was in bed with her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, shortly after midnight.

Mr Walker fired a shot from his licensed gun, later telling police he thought that Ms Taylor’s ex-boyfriend, Jamarcus Glover, had broken in, according to the New York Times.

Officials say Mr Walker’s bullet struck Mr Mattingly in the leg. The three officers returned fire, discharging 32 rounds, according to a ballistics report from the FBI.

Ms Taylor was shot amid the commotion and died on the hallway floor.

A timeline of the shooting

Walker fires one bullet, hitting Mattingly in the leg moments after police take down the flat door with a battering ram

Mattingly returns fire, shooting six times at Walker and Taylor, who is standing beside him in her hallway

Cosgrove fires 16 shots from the doorway of Taylor’s home

Taylor is struck six times in a matter of seconds

Hankinson fires 10 shots through a patio door and window. His bullets enter the nextdoor flat

No drugs were found at the property, though Jefferson County Prosecutor Thomas Wine said the search was cancelled after the shooting.

A subsequent police report contained errors, including listing Ms Taylor’s injuries as “none” and saying no force was used to enter, when a battering ram had been used.

Mr Hankison was fired from the police after investigators found he had “wantonly and blindly fired 10 rounds” during the raid, according to his termination letter.

Mr Mattingly and Mr Cosgrove were reassigned to administrative duties.

The article was originally published here! Breonna Taylor: Family lawyer slams ‘sham’ grand jury proceedings

[theeblacksheep-blog1]

Breonna Taylor: Family lawyer slams ‘sham’ grand jury proceedings

Image copyright Getty Images

A lawyer for Breonna Taylor’s family has called the grand jury proceedings a “sham” that has shown racial inequalities in the US justice system.

Ms Taylor, a black hospital worker, was shot six times and killed aged 26 when police raided her home on 13 March.

On Wednesday, a grand jury in Kentucky returned a minor felony charge against one of three officers, for shots that hit a neighbouring apartment.

Two officers have been shot amid protests sparked by the decision.

The individual indicted in the Taylor case is Brett Hankison, who was fired from the force in June. He faces three counts of “wanton endangerment in the first degree”.

Under Kentucky law, wanton endangerment applies to an act of “extreme indifference to the value of human life”. It is the lowest-level felony and carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison per count.

Ms Taylor’s family had called for the arrest of all three officers, but the grand jury – a panel drawn from members of the public to determine whether there is enough evidence to pursue a prosecution – has declined to do so.

Media playback is unsupported on your device

Media captionLarge crowds demonstrated in Louisville over the decision not to prosecute police for Breonna Taylor’s killing

Attorney Ben Crump said in a tweet: “The grand jury proceedings were a SHAM. The ‘wanton endangerment’ charge is an example of America’s 2 justice systems – protecting white neighbours & ignoring the death of a black woman.”

“We’ve been saying ‘Say Her Name’ for six months… and #BreonnaTaylor’s name was NEVER mentioned in yesterday’s indictment,” he later added.

Image copyright Facebook

Image caption Breonna Taylor was an emergency medical technician

In an op-ed for the Washington Post titled “Our devilish, racist system made it impossible to get justice for Breonna Taylor”, Mr Crump rejected the notion that “every time justice is denied to a Black person in the United States, it seems the devil is in the details”.

Most police shootings go unnoticed by the public, he continued, adding: “We wouldn’t know Breonna’s name if her death hadn’t happened in a season of police killings when America was getting quickly woke to it.

“But now that the world knows Bre’s name, we won’t stop saying it until it becomes a kind of incantation to bind the devil in our divided justice system.”

The two other officers involved were justified in their actions, the Kentucky attorney general said on Wednesday.

One had been hit by a shot fired by Ms Taylor’s boyfriend, who later told police he thought it was an ex-boyfriend of Ms Taylor who had broken into the apartment.

A judge had granted 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 police have fuelled anger across the US and beyond, spurred especially by the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis in May.

What is happening in Louisville?

Protests were sparked across the US by anger over the grand jury decision. In Louisville, a state of emergency has been declared and the National Guard has been deployed.

A 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 arrests were for breaking the curfew.

The two police shot during the unrest on Wednesday were identified as Major Aubrey Gregory and Officer Robinson Desroches. Major Gregory has already been released from hospital, officials say, and Mr Desroches is recovering.

Twenty-six-year-old Larynzo Johnson has been arrested as the suspected gunman.

Image copyright Police handout

Image caption Larynzo Johnson is accused of shooting at police officers

According to the Associated Press, the attack happened as protesters were moving through an alleyway to avoid a police roadblock as officers threw pepper balls at them. As shots rang out, the crowd scattered to take cover as officers in riot gear and rifles swarmed the area.

Protests over the grand jury’s decision also took place in New York, Washington, Atlanta, and Chicago.

Media playback is unsupported on your device

Media captionKentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron presented the grand jury decision

What did officials say on Wednesday?

Following the decision, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron – the state’s top prosecutor – said there was “nothing I can offer [Ms Taylor’s family] today to take away the grief and heartache as a result of losing a child, a niece, a sister and a friend,” calling it a “gut-wrenching emotional case”.

Mr Cameron said a ballistics report had found that six bullets had struck 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 not clear if Mr Hankison’s shots had also hit Ms Taylor, but they had hit a neighbouring apartment.

He said Mr Cosgrove and the third officer, Jonathan Mattingly, had been “justified to protect themselves and the justification bars us from pursuing criminal charges”.

Image copyright LMPD

Image caption From left: Brett Hankison, Jonathan Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove

The FBI was still investigating potential violations of federal law in the case, Mr Cameron added.

What has been the reaction?

Ms Taylor’s relatives and activists had been calling for the three officers, who are all white, to be charged with murder or manslaughter.

When asked about the charges at a White House news conference, US President Donald Trump said he “thought it was really brilliant”.

He praised Kentucky’s attorney general, who addressed the Republican party convention last month, for “doing a fantastic job”.

Image copyright Reuters

Image caption Crowds of protesters marched through Brooklyn in New York, chanting Ms Taylor’s name

Mr Trump’s Democratic challenger for November’s election, Joe Biden, said the decision “does not answer” the call for justice, while telling protesters to act peacefully.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, a Democrat, urged prosecutors to release the evidence that was presented to the grand jury.

“I think having more of the facts out there so people can see, people can truly process it, is where we need to be,” he said.

Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, the most senior Democrat in Washington, said on Thursday that “justice was denied for Breonna Taylor and her family”.

Senator Kamala Harris, who is running for vice-president with Joe Biden, wrote on Twitter that Americans must “keep speaking Breonna Taylor’s name”.

What were the circumstances of Ms Taylor’s killing?

Plainclothes police, executing a search warrant, forced their way into the apartment where Breonna Taylor was in bed with her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, shortly after midnight.

Mr Walker fired a shot from his licensed gun, later telling police he thought that Ms Taylor’s ex-boyfriend, Jamarcus Glover, had broken in, according to the New York Times.

Officials say Mr Walker’s bullet struck Mr Mattingly in the leg. The three officers returned fire, discharging 32 rounds, according to a ballistics report from the FBI.

Ms Taylor was shot amid the commotion and died on the hallway floor.

A timeline of the shooting

Walker fires one bullet, hitting Mattingly in the leg moments after police take down the flat door with a battering ram

Mattingly returns fire, shooting six times at Walker and Taylor, who is standing beside him in her hallway

Cosgrove fires 16 shots from the doorway of Taylor’s home

Taylor is struck six times in a matter of seconds

Hankinson fires 10 shots through a patio door and window. His bullets enter the nextdoor flat

No drugs were found at the property, though Jefferson County Prosecutor Thomas Wine said the search was cancelled after the shooting.

A subsequent police report contained errors, including listing Ms Taylor’s injuries as “none” and saying no force was used to enter, when a battering ram had been used.

Mr Hankison was fired from the police after investigators found he had “wantonly and blindly fired 10 rounds” during the raid, according to his termination letter.

Mr Mattingly and Mr Cosgrove were reassigned to administrative duties.

The article was originally published here! Breonna Taylor: Family lawyer slams ‘sham’ grand jury proceedings

[ourclassycollectionpainter-blog]

Breonna Taylor: Family lawyer slams ‘sham’ grand jury proceedings

Image copyright Getty Images

A lawyer for Breonna Taylor’s family has called the grand jury proceedings a “sham” that has shown racial inequalities in the US justice system.

Ms Taylor, a black hospital worker, was shot six times and killed aged 26 when police raided her home on 13 March.

On Wednesday, a grand jury in Kentucky returned a minor felony charge against one of three officers, for shots that hit a neighbouring apartment.

Two officers have been shot amid protests sparked by the decision.

The individual indicted in the Taylor case is Brett Hankison, who was fired from the force in June. He faces three counts of “wanton endangerment in the first degree”.

Under Kentucky law, wanton endangerment applies to an act of “extreme indifference to the value of human life”. It is the lowest-level felony and carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison per count.

Ms Taylor’s family had called for the arrest of all three officers, but the grand jury – a panel drawn from members of the public to determine whether there is enough evidence to pursue a prosecution – has declined to do so.

Media playback is unsupported on your device

Media captionLarge crowds demonstrated in Louisville over the decision not to prosecute police for Breonna Taylor’s killing

Attorney Ben Crump said in a tweet: “The grand jury proceedings were a SHAM. The ‘wanton endangerment’ charge is an example of America’s 2 justice systems – protecting white neighbours & ignoring the death of a black woman.”

“We’ve been saying ‘Say Her Name’ for six months… and #BreonnaTaylor’s name was NEVER mentioned in yesterday’s indictment,” he later added.

Image copyright Facebook

Image caption Breonna Taylor was an emergency medical technician

In an op-ed for the Washington Post titled “Our devilish, racist system made it impossible to get justice for Breonna Taylor”, Mr Crump rejected the notion that “every time justice is denied to a Black person in the United States, it seems the devil is in the details”.

Most police shootings go unnoticed by the public, he continued, adding: “We wouldn’t know Breonna’s name if her death hadn’t happened in a season of police killings when America was getting quickly woke to it.

“But now that the world knows Bre’s name, we won’t stop saying it until it becomes a kind of incantation to bind the devil in our divided justice system.”

The two other officers involved were justified in their actions, the Kentucky attorney general said on Wednesday.

One had been hit by a shot fired by Ms Taylor’s boyfriend, who later told police he thought it was an ex-boyfriend of Ms Taylor who had broken into the apartment.

A judge had granted 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 police have fuelled anger across the US and beyond, spurred especially by the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis in May.

What is happening in Louisville?

Protests were sparked across the US by anger over the grand jury decision. In Louisville, a state of emergency has been declared and the National Guard has been deployed.

A 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 arrests were for breaking the curfew.

The two police shot during the unrest on Wednesday were identified as Major Aubrey Gregory and Officer Robinson Desroches. Major Gregory has already been released from hospital, officials say, and Mr Desroches is recovering.

Twenty-six-year-old Larynzo Johnson has been arrested as the suspected gunman.

Image copyright Police handout

Image caption Larynzo Johnson is accused of shooting at police officers

According to the Associated Press, the attack happened as protesters were moving through an alleyway to avoid a police roadblock as officers threw pepper balls at them. As shots rang out, the crowd scattered to take cover as officers in riot gear and rifles swarmed the area.

Protests over the grand jury’s decision also took place in New York, Washington, Atlanta, and Chicago.

Media playback is unsupported on your device

Media captionKentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron presented the grand jury decision

What did officials say on Wednesday?

Following the decision, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron – the state’s top prosecutor – said there was “nothing I can offer [Ms Taylor’s family] today to take away the grief and heartache as a result of losing a child, a niece, a sister and a friend,” calling it a “gut-wrenching emotional case”.

Mr Cameron said a ballistics report had found that six bullets had struck 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 not clear if Mr Hankison’s shots had also hit Ms Taylor, but they had hit a neighbouring apartment.

He said Mr Cosgrove and the third officer, Jonathan Mattingly, had been “justified to protect themselves and the justification bars us from pursuing criminal charges”.

Image copyright LMPD

Image caption From left: Brett Hankison, Jonathan Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove

The FBI was still investigating potential violations of federal law in the case, Mr Cameron added.

What has been the reaction?

Ms Taylor’s relatives and activists had been calling for the three officers, who are all white, to be charged with murder or manslaughter.

When asked about the charges at a White House news conference, US President Donald Trump said he “thought it was really brilliant”.

He praised Kentucky’s attorney general, who addressed the Republican party convention last month, for “doing a fantastic job”.

Image copyright Reuters

Image caption Crowds of protesters marched through Brooklyn in New York, chanting Ms Taylor’s name

Mr Trump’s Democratic challenger for November’s election, Joe Biden, said the decision “does not answer” the call for justice, while telling protesters to act peacefully.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, a Democrat, urged prosecutors to release the evidence that was presented to the grand jury.

“I think having more of the facts out there so people can see, people can truly process it, is where we need to be,” he said.

Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, the most senior Democrat in Washington, said on Thursday that “justice was denied for Breonna Taylor and her family”.

Senator Kamala Harris, who is running for vice-president with Joe Biden, wrote on Twitter that Americans must “keep speaking Breonna Taylor’s name”.

What were the circumstances of Ms Taylor’s killing?

Plainclothes police, executing a search warrant, forced their way into the apartment where Breonna Taylor was in bed with her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, shortly after midnight.

Mr Walker fired a shot from his licensed gun, later telling police he thought that Ms Taylor’s ex-boyfriend, Jamarcus Glover, had broken in, according to the New York Times.

Officials say Mr Walker’s bullet struck Mr Mattingly in the leg. The three officers returned fire, discharging 32 rounds, according to a ballistics report from the FBI.

Ms Taylor was shot amid the commotion and died on the hallway floor.

A timeline of the shooting

Walker fires one bullet, hitting Mattingly in the leg moments after police take down the flat door with a battering ram

Mattingly returns fire, shooting six times at Walker and Taylor, who is standing beside him in her hallway

Cosgrove fires 16 shots from the doorway of Taylor’s home

Taylor is struck six times in a matter of seconds

Hankinson fires 10 shots through a patio door and window. His bullets enter the nextdoor flat

No drugs were found at the property, though Jefferson County Prosecutor Thomas Wine said the search was cancelled after the shooting.

A subsequent police report contained errors, including listing Ms Taylor’s injuries as “none” and saying no force was used to enter, when a battering ram had been used.

Mr Hankison was fired from the police after investigators found he had “wantonly and blindly fired 10 rounds” during the raid, according to his termination letter.

Mr Mattingly and Mr Cosgrove were reassigned to administrative duties.

The article was originally published here! Breonna Taylor: Family lawyer slams ‘sham’ grand jury proceedings

[wokeinmemphis-blog]

Policeman charged over Breonna Taylor shooting

Media playback is unsupported on your device

Media captionKentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron presented the grand jury decision

A police officer has been charged over the narcotics raid that resulted in the fatal shooting of a black woman at her home in the US state of Kentucky.

Breonna Taylor, 26, a hospital worker, was shot multiple times as officers stormed her home on 13 March.

Brett Hankison has been charged, not with Ms Taylor’s death, but with “wanton endangerment” for firing into a neighbour’s apartment in Louisville.

Two other officers who were involved have not been charged.

Under Kentucky law, someone is guilty of wanton endangerment if they commit an act that shows “an extreme indifference to the value of human life”.

This lowest-level felony offence can come with a five-year sentence for each count. Mr Hankison was charged on three counts.

Ms Taylor’s relatives and activists for whom her death has become a rallying cry had been calling for the three officers, who are all white, to be charged with murder or manslaughter.

But this was rejected by a grand jury that reviewed the evidence.

Image copyright Facebook

Image caption Taylor, an emergency medical technician, was 26 when she died

What did the prosecutor say?

On Wednesday, Judge Annie O’Connell announced the charges that had been brought by a grand jury against Mr Hankison.

Kentucky Attorney General Mr Cameron then held a news conference in which he expanded on the decision. “This is a gut-wrenching emotional case,” he said.

“There is nothing I can offer them today to take away the grief and heartache as a result of losing a child, a niece, a sister and a friend,” he added in a message to Ms Taylor’s family.

Mr Cameron said a ballistics report had found that six bullets struck Ms Taylor, but only one was fatal.

That analysis concluded that Detective Myles Cosgrove had fired the shot that killed Ms Taylor.

The attorney general said it was not clear if Mr Hankison’s shots had hit Ms Taylor, but they had hit a neighbouring apartment.

Media playback is unsupported on your device

Media captionProtesters march in Louisville following the grand jury decision

The top prosecutor said the other two officers – Jonathan Mattingly and Mr Cosgrove – had been “justified to protect themselves and the justification bars us from pursuing criminal charges”.

Mr Cameron, a Republican who is the state’s first black attorney general, added: “If we simply act on emotion or outrage, there is no justice.

“Mob justice is not justice. Justice sought by violence is not justice. It just becomes revenge.”

He added that the FBI was still investigating potential violations of federal law in the case.

Image copyright Reuters

Image caption The National Guard were deployed in Louisville ahead of the announcement

What’s the reaction?

Ben Crump, a high-profile lawyer for the Taylor family, said the outcome was “outrageous and offensive”.

Officials this month agreed to pay her family $12m (£9.3m) in a settlement.

Asked for his reaction to the decision, Mr Trump told a White House news conference: “I thought it was really brilliant.”

He praised Kentucky’s attorney general, who addressed the Republican party convention last month, for “doing a fantastic job”.

“I think he’s a star,” he said, adding that he approved of the Kentucky governor’s decision to send in the National Guard.

Governor Andy Beshear, a Democrat, urged Kentucky prosecutors to release the evidence that was presented to the grand jury.

“I think having more of the facts out there so people can see, people can truly process it, is where we need to be,” Mr Beshear told reporters.

How are Louisville authorities reacting?

A state of emergency was declared in Louisville on Tuesday and protests are expected. The National Guard have also been deployed.

Mayor Greg Fischer has set a 21:00-06:30 curfew in the city that will remain in place for the next 72 hours. He earlier said he had declared a state of emergency “due to the potential for civil unrest”.

Police have closed traffic on certain streets where protests have been prevalent, and barricades have been erected around the city centre.

Demonstrations over Ms Taylor’s death have been held in the city for more than 100 consecutive days.

The National Guard deployment has been criticised because one of its troops fatally shot a black restaurant owner, David McAtee, as authorities dispersed Black Lives Matter protesters in June.

The police department said its officers had come under fire while they were trying to clear the area. But after officers on the scene were found to have not activated their body cameras, the city’s police chief was sacked.

Image copyright Reuters

What happened to Ms Taylor?

Shortly after midnight on Friday 13 March, she was in bed with her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, when they heard a banging on the door.

Plainclothes Louisville police officers were carrying out a narcotics raid, and they used a battering ram to enter the property.

A judge had granted a warrant to search Ms Taylor’s home because investigators suspected a convicted drug dealer – her ex-boyfriend, Jamarcus Glover – was using the address to receive packages. She had no criminal record.

Image copyright Reuters

Mr Walker, a licensed gun owner, later told police he thought the late-night intruder was Glover, according to the New York Times.

Officials say Mr Walker’s bullet struck a police officer, Jonathan Mattingly, in the leg – an injury for which he later required surgery.

The three officers returned fire, discharging 32 rounds, according to a ballistics report from the FBI.

Ms Taylor, who had also got out of bed amid the commotion, was shot and died on the hallway floor.

According to an arrest report, the officers had been granted a “no-knock” warrant, allowing them to enter the property without warning.

Image copyright Reuters

But Mr Cameron said on Wednesday the officers had not actually served such a warrant. The attorney general said the officers’ statements that they identified themselves “are corroborated by an independent witness”.

Some neighbours told local media they did not hear the officers announce themselves.

No drugs were found at the property, though Jefferson County prosecutor Thomas Wine has previously said the search was cancelled after the shooting.

The subsequent police report contained errors, including listing Ms Taylor’s injuries as “none” and saying no force was used to enter, when a battering ram had been used.

Mr Walker was initially charged with attempted murder and assault of a police officer, but the case against him was dropped in May amid national scrutiny of the case.

Image copyright LMPD

Image caption From left: Brett Hankison, Jonathan Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove

What about the officers?

Mr Hankison was fired from the Louisville Metro Police Department in June after investigators found he had “wantonly and blindly fired 10 rounds” during the raid, according to his termination letter.

Mr Mattingly and Mr Cosgrove were reassigned to administrative duties.

The Louisville Courier-Journal has reported that six officers are under internal police review for their role in the shooting.

Mr Mattingly wrote an email on Saturday to more than 1,000 colleagues in which he criticised city leaders and protesters.

“Regardless of the outcome today or Wednesday, I know we did the legal, moral and ethical thing that night,” he wrote in the message, which was published by media outlets on Tuesday.

“It’s sad how the good guys are demonised, and the criminals are canonised.”

“Your civil rights mean nothing,” he added, “but the criminal has total autonomy.”

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The article was originally published here! Policeman charged over Breonna Taylor shooting