(Headline USA) Hours after a Kentucky grand jury brought no charges against Louisville police for Breonna Taylor‘s death and rioters took to the streets, authorities said two officers were shot and wounded Wednesday night during the demonstrations expressing anger over the killings of Black people at the hands of police.
Interim Louisville Police Chief Robert Schroeder said a suspect was in custody but did not offer details about whether that person was participating in the demonstrations.
He says both officers are expected to recover, and one is undergoing surgery.
He says the officers were shot after investigating reports of gunfire at an intersection where there was a large crowd.
Several shots rang out as rioters in downtown Louisville tried to avoid police blockades, moving down an alleyway as officers lobbed pepper balls, according to an Associated Press journalist.
People covered their ears, ran away and frantically looked for places to hide.
Police with long guns swarmed the area, then officers in riot gear and military-style vehicles blocked off roadways.
One person shouted at Louisville police, “All y’all get ready to fucking die!” pic.twitter.com/dTHVDeKjCT
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) September 23, 2020
Multiple fire have been started in downtown Louisville. As a bonus, something exploded right in front of me. pic.twitter.com/9t67SwfWuH
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) September 23, 2020
A large crowd has moved away from the Hall of Justice and fires are being set along the way. pic.twitter.com/mVKos4m8cl
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) September 24, 2020
Police came out of the Hall of Justice in Louisville to put out the fires that had been started and were attacked with projectiles by rioters. The police fell back inside the building. An unlawful assembly has been declared. pic.twitter.com/EVEbqje7gr
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) September 23, 2020
People are trying to set fire to boards protecting the widows on the Hall of Justice in Louisville. pic.twitter.com/iSjp1cXvLs
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) September 23, 2020
The violence comes after prosecutors said two officers who fired their weapons at Taylor, a black woman, were justified in using force to protect themselves after they faced gunfire from her boyfriend. The only charges were three counts of wanton endangerment against fired Officer Brett Hankison for shooting into a home next to Taylor’s with people inside.
The FBI is still investigating potential violations of federal law in connection with the raid at Taylor’s home on March 13.
Ben Crump, a lawyer for Taylor’s family, denounced the decision as “outrageous and offensive,” and protesters shouting, “No justice, no peace!” immediately marched through the streets.
Scuffles broke out between police and protesters, and some were arrested. Officers fired flash bangs and a few small fires burned in a square that’s been at the center of protests, but it had largely cleared out ahead of a nighttime curfew as demonstrators marched through other parts of downtown Louisville. Dozens of patrol cars blocked the city’s major thoroughfare.
Rioters also inflicted destruction in cities like Seattle, Portland, New York, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Asheville, NC.
Watch: A rioter at the BLM-antifa Portland riot throws a large Molotov cocktail at @PortlandPolice. #PortlandRiots #antifa pic.twitter.com/mRGCAbFOQe
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) September 24, 2020
Another angle showing a rioter throwing a Molotov cocktail at @PortlandPolice in downtown. #PortlandRiots #antifa pic.twitter.com/HN3zSpZED4
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) September 24, 2020
This is the work of antifa in Seattle at the former “CHAZ” autonomous zone. They’ve been trying to reclaim that area since losing it in June following several homicides. https://t.co/0LW5TAcx0z
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) September 24, 2020
Skyline News reporter Chad Nesbitt was seriously hurt by rioters in Asheville. He’s was taken to hospital by ambulance. https://t.co/reUduNWv77
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) September 24, 2020
Seattle: Antifa rioters beat a cop on the head who is knocked to the ground. #SeattleRiots #antifa #BLM https://t.co/OVyqe4LsRf
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) September 24, 2020
Taylor, an emergency medical worker, was shot multiple times by officers who entered her home during a narcotics investigation. State Attorney General Daniel Cameron, who is black, said that while the officers had a no-knock warrant, the investigation showed they announced themselves before entering. The warrant used to search her home was connected to a suspect who did not live there, and no drugs were found inside.
Along with the killing of George Floyd in Minnesota, Taylor’s case became a major touchstone for nationwide riots. Taylor’s image has been painted on streets, emblazoned on protest signs and silk-screened on T-shirts worn by celebrities. Several prominent African American celebrities joined those urging that the officers be charged.
The announcement drew sadness, frustration and anger that the grand jury did not go further. The wanton endangerment charges each carry a sentence of up to five years.
Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, said he authorized a limited deployment of the National Guard. He also urged Cameron to post online all the evidence that could be released without affecting the charges filed.
“Those that are currently feeling frustration, feeling hurt, they deserve to know more,” he said.
Cameron said the officers acted in self-defense after Taylor’s boyfriend fired at them. He added that Hankison and the two other officers who entered Taylor’s apartment announced themselves before entering — and so did not execute the warrant as “no knock,” according to the investigation. The city has since banned such warrants.
“According to Kentucky law, the use of force by (Officers Jonathan) Mattingly and (Myles) Cosgrove was justified to protect themselves,” he said. “This justification bars us from pursuing criminal charges in Miss Breonna Taylor’s death.”
Cameron said an FBI crime lab determined that Cosgrove fired the bullet that killed Taylor.
Taylor’s boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, opened fire when police burst in, hitting Mattingly. Walker told police he heard knocking but didn’t know who was coming in and fired in self-defense.
Adapted from reporting by Associated Press.
