The Louisville Metro Police Department has reported that two officers have been shot during the violent protests currently taking place in the city.
Violent protests erupted after the grand jury indictment was announced in the case of the death of Breonna Taylor. No officers were charged in her death, though one officer was charged with three counts of wanton endangerment for accidentally firing his gun into two neighboring apartments.
Black Lives Matter activists immediately denounced the lack of charges in what they believe to be a murder by police officers.
Breonna Taylor
According to reports, officers obtained a no-knock warrant to search Taylor’s apartment for drugs and money related to an investigation into her ex-boyfriend Jamarcus Glover. Officers chose to knock and announce themselves, despite the warrant allowing them to enter unannounced, and were fired upon by Taylor’s current boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, who said he believed the house was being broken into.
Officers returned fire after one officer was shot by Walker, and ended up killing Taylor.
The Shooting
Police initially said that only one officer had been shot, but did not offer details.
Per an @LMPD spokesman just now, an officer has been shot. pic.twitter.com/nkIRABHIj0
— Ben Tobin (@TobinBen) September 24, 2020
It was confirmed later that two officers were shot and taken to the hospital.
Louisville Metro Police confirm that TWO officers have been shot and were transported to Louisville University Hospital.
— Charlie Gile (@CharlieGileNBC) September 24, 2020
A video was posted to Twitter where the gunshots can be heard (warning, graphic language and gun shots):
#Louisville: Shots fires at police. One officer has been shot and is on the way to hospital according to the police scanner. pic.twitter.com/2wlcGuXMZb
— Jake Hanrahan (@Jake_Hanrahan) September 24, 2020
According to reports, the suspect is in custody. No details have been released yet.
Update on #BreakingNews from the #WLKY Newsroom: sources say two @LMPD officers were shot, but are alert with suspect in custody. We are waiting on an update from LMPD officials. Stay with @WLKY.
— Jennifer Baileys (@WLKYJennifer) September 24, 2020
State troopers are on the scene, as fires burn around downtown Louisville:
State troopers out to monitor Jefferson Square as fires continue to burn in downtown Louisville #Louisville #LouisvilleProtests #BreonnaTaylor pic.twitter.com/I6ooLS4TwZ
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) September 24, 2020
The Louisville branch of the FBI posted on Twitter that they were responding to the shooting:
The FBI Louisville SWAT team has responded to an LMPD officer being shot and will continue to assist in the investigation.
— FBI Louisville (@FBILouisville) September 24, 2020
The FBI is here as well #Louisville #LouisvilleProtests #BreonnaTaylor pic.twitter.com/nTKzmZoiBU
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) September 24, 2020
Rioters are being arrested throughout the city:
Violent rioters hiding in bushes get busted by the cops in Louisville. pic.twitter.com/a0VAPPavvj
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) September 24, 2020
National Guard is also set up outside of the hospital where the two officers are being treated. According to reports, one officer was shot under the vest, and the other was shot in the thigh:
LOUISVILLE – National Guard are the hospital where 2 injured officers are going through surgery
Conflicting reports are saying 1 officer was struck under the vest, the other in the thigh pic.twitter.com/LpmstZfDml
— FJ News Reporter (@FJNewsReporter) September 24, 2020
The Louisville Metro Police Department is attempting to enforce the curfew implemented by the mayor prior to the grand jury announcement.
Attention: By authority of the mayor, a county-wide curfew will go into effect for the next 72-hours between 9 pm and 6:30 am. Please plan ahead. pic.twitter.com/kIGyPkjtc4
— LMPD (@LMPD) September 23, 2020
[…] Extremely Hostile Situation: 2 Officers Down… Swat, FBI, State Troopers, and National Guard Swarmi…. The Louisville Metro Police Department has reported that two officers have been shot during the violent protests currently taking place in the city. Violent protests erupted after the grand jury indictment was announced in the case of the death of Breonna Taylor. No officers were charged in her death, though one officer was charged with three counts of wanton endangerment for accidentally firing his gun into two neighboring apartments. Black Lives Matter activists immediately denounced the lack of charges in what they believe to be a murder by police officers. […]
don’t give these thugs any consideration…….SHOOT TO KILL OR PERMANENTLY MAIME……that’s all they understand……DISGUSTING PIECES OF SHIDT……
[…] FBI and other federal investigators have uncovered a major issue when launching a probe into potential […]
[…] said that the did not know if the cases regarding targeted attacks on members of law enforcement by “racially motivated extremism” were linked to Black Lives Matter, a group that he […]