
New evidence presented by Kentucky AG details rifle casings found at scene of Breonna Taylor raid – WLKY Louisville
New details are being released about apparent evidence related to the deadly raid at Breonna Taylor’s apartment in March.The latest information was shared by Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron under a “notice of exculpatory evidence,” which was filed Wednesday in Jefferson Circuit Court. Exculpatory evidence is evidence that is favorable to the defendant in a criminal trail. The defendant in this case would be former Louisville Metro police officer Brett Hankison, who was indicted on charges of wanton endangerment for firing shots into the home of Taylor’s neighbor.The exculpatory evidence Cameron is referencing are two long rifle casings that were found at the scene, according to the filing. This the first time the attorney general or his office have made mention of the casings among the evidence they’ve been reviewing.According to the filing, one of the casings was found by Juniyah Palmer, Taylor’s sister, who apparently located it behind a storage chest in her bedroom, which is the same apartment where Taylor lived.Cameron’s office said that casing was turned over to the FBI by family attorney Sam Aguiar.The other casing was found the morning of the raid — March 13 — in the parking lot outside Taylor’s apartment at the complex on Springfield Drive. That casing was recovered by a visitor to the apartment building, who then turned it over to the attorney general’s office.Cameron said both casings are now with the FBI undergoing testing.Additional details were not released by Cameron’s office on the casings.While the rifle casings are a new facet to the case that has received months of local and national attention, mention of a rifle isn’t new to the case.Hankison, the only officer indicted in the probe, previously told the Louisville Metro Police Department’s public integrity unit that he believed whoever had fired at officers the night of the raid — later identified as Kenneth Walker (Taylor’s boyfriend) — was armed with an AR-15, or some type of long rifle.Hankison tells the PIU he believed this because of his previous training and experience with these sorts of firearms. He said the apartment was dark when the officers busted through the front door, but that he could make out a figure that appeared to be holding what he believed was an AR-15.The former LMPD officer also explains that he heard a loud noise, and that the way the individual was holding the firearm led him to believe he was holding an AR-15.But among the evidence that was recovered from the scene, and reported on, there has never been mention of a rifle by either the LMPD or Cameron’s office.Walker, who fired back at the officers executing the warrant, is a registered gun owner and the handgun that he used that struck Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly — a Glock 9mm — was turned over to LMPD.Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove were cleared of any wrongdoing and were found justified in the shooting. Hankison’s charges are related to him opening fire the night of the raid and those bullets going into a neighboring apartment at the complex where Taylor lived.The Taylor family attorneys have not yet commented on Cameron’s recent filing.Attorneys for the family did announce this week that Taylor’s mother, Tamika Palmer, has sent a request to the Kentucky Prosecutor Advisory Council asking them to appoint a new independent prosecutor “to present a full and unbiased case to a new grand jury.”Taylor’s family, and their attorneys, have been criticizing Cameron for his approach to the probe, calling for another independent investigation. Lonita Baker, one of the family’s attorneys, said Wednesday that “information provided by the brave actions of grand jurors in the case presented by AG Daniel Cameron’s Office have confirmed that the presentation was flawed and not in compliance with Kentucky law.”The Taylor family is hoping an independent prosecutor will “restore the confidence in the grand jury process to the citizens of the commonwealth.”
LOUISVILLE, Ky. —
New details are being released about apparent evidence related to the deadly raid at Breonna Taylor’s apartment in March.
The latest information was shared by Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron under a “notice of exculpatory evidence,” which was filed Wednesday in Jefferson Circuit Court.
Exculpatory evidence is evidence that is favorable to the defendant in a criminal trail. The defendant in this case would be former Louisville Metro police officer Brett Hankison, who was indicted on charges of wanton endangerment for firing shots into the home of Taylor’s neighbor.
The exculpatory evidence Cameron is referencing are two long rifle casings that were found at the scene, according to the filing. This the first time the attorney general or his office have made mention of the casings among the evidence they’ve been reviewing.
According to the filing, one of the casings was found by Juniyah Palmer, Taylor’s sister, who apparently located it behind a storage chest in her bedroom, which is the same apartment where Taylor lived.
Cameron’s office said that casing was turned over to the FBI by family attorney Sam Aguiar.
The other casing was found the morning of the raid — March 13 — in the parking lot outside Taylor’s apartment at the complex on Springfield Drive. That casing was recovered by a visitor to the apartment building, who then turned it over to the attorney general’s office.
Cameron said both casings are now with the FBI undergoing testing.
Additional details were not released by Cameron’s office on the casings.
Hankison, the only officer indicted in the probe, previously told the Louisville Metro Police Department’s public integrity unit that he believed whoever had fired at officers the night of the raid — later identified as Kenneth Walker (Taylor’s boyfriend) — was armed with an AR-15, or some type of long rifle.
Hankison tells the PIU he believed this because of his previous training and experience with these sorts of firearms. He said the apartment was dark when the officers busted through the front door, but that he could make out a figure that appeared to be holding what he believed was an AR-15.
The former LMPD officer also explains that he heard a loud noise, and that the way the individual was holding the firearm led him to believe he was holding an AR-15.
But among the evidence that was recovered from the scene, and reported on, there has never been mention of a rifle by either the LMPD or Cameron’s office.
Walker, who fired back at the officers executing the warrant, is a registered gun owner and the handgun that he used that struck Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly — a Glock 9mm — was turned over to LMPD.
Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove were cleared of any wrongdoing and were found justified in the shooting. Hankison’s charges are related to him opening fire the night of the raid and those bullets going into a neighboring apartment at the complex where Taylor lived.
The Taylor family attorneys have not yet commented on Cameron’s recent filing.
Attorneys for the family did announce this week that Taylor’s mother, Tamika Palmer, has sent a request to the Kentucky Prosecutor Advisory Council asking them to appoint a new independent prosecutor “to present a full and unbiased case to a new grand jury.”
Taylor’s family, and their attorneys, have been criticizing Cameron for his approach to the probe, calling for another independent investigation. Lonita Baker, one of the family’s attorneys, said Wednesday that “information provided by the brave actions of grand jurors in the case presented by AG Daniel Cameron’s Office have confirmed that the presentation was flawed and not in compliance with Kentucky law.”
The Taylor family is hoping an independent prosecutor will “restore the confidence in the grand jury process to the citizens of the commonwealth.”