One Year Later: Family Says There’s “No Accountability” In Death Of Breonna Taylor

It’s been a year since Breonna Taylor died as the result of police violence against Blacks.

The 26-year-old emergency medical technician was killed by Louisville, Kentucky police in her apartment precisely one year from today. Her death has sparked protests calling for police and is the epitome of the injustice Blacks face when it comes to the law.

Her family and friends say she was beloved and relished the opportunity to brighten someone else’s day, NPR reported.

None of the officers who fired their weapons, which was a total of 32 rounds, face criminal charges directly related to Taylor’s killing. Three officers involved have been terminated from the force, but this was not even close to the justice Taylor deserved.

In September 2020, the City of Louisville announced a $12 million settlement for Taylor’s family after filing a wrongful death lawsuit.

The settlement also included several police reforms, including a ban on no-knock warrants.

“Her death has ignited a movement in Louisville and the nation for racial justice, sending thousands into our streets and cities all across the country and the world all crying out for justice for Breonna,” Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said at a press briefing announcing the settlement.

Taylor’s family members still mourn. Her sister Ju’Niyah Palmer wrote on Instagram earlier this year that her heart was “heavy because we are only 2 months away from me not hearing, seeing or cuddling you for a whole year.”

Her mother, Tamika Palmer, filed a new complaint with the Louisville Police Department’s professional standards unit regarding six officers’ role in the investigation that resulted in the raid.

On Thursday, during an interview with a Louisville CBS affiliate, Taylor’s mother spoke on her frustration with the lack of accountability in her daughter’s case and called on the community to continue to fight for justice.

“I can’t believe it’s a year later, and we’re still just asking people to do the right thing,” she said. “Not to say all officers are bad, but there’s no accountability.”

Last September, following months of protests, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron announced that the grand jury handed down three criminal counts of wanton endangerment to Brett Hankison for shooting through Taylor’s apartment into a neighboring residence.

The grand jury did not charge Jonathan Mattingly or Myles Cosgrove.

Long Live Breonna Taylor.