Breonna Taylor’s family speaks out following $12M settlement: ‘It’s time to move forward with the criminal charges’

By 
·September 15, 2020
LOUISVILLE, KY - AUGUST 13: Breonna Taylor's mother Tamika Palmer listens during a press conference over the speed of the investigation of her daughter's death as attorney Benjamin Crump and co-counsel Lonita Baker addresses the media outside Louisville City Hall on August 13, 2020 in Louisville, Kentucky.The attorneys and family are upset with the lack of action by city officials during the 150 days since Breonna Taylor was fatally shot by Louisville Metro Police officers. (Photo by John Sommers II/Getty Images)

LOUISVILLE, KY - AUGUST 13: Breonna Taylor's mother Tamika Palmer listens during a press conference over the speed of the investigation of her daughter's death as attorney Benjamin Crump and co-counsel Lonita Baker addresses the media outside Louisville City Hall on August 13, 2020 in Louisville, Kentucky.The attorneys and family are upset with the lack of action by city officials during the 150 days since Breonna Taylor was fatally shot by Louisville Metro Police officers. (Photo by John Sommers II/Getty Images)

Breonna Taylor’s mother spoke at the press conference where it was formally announced that the city of Louisville, Kentucky would pay her estate $12 million as part of a wrongful death suit. Tamika Palmer asked supporters to continue saying her daughter’s name.

“Her beautiful spirit and personality is working through all of us on the ground, so please continue to say her name: Breonna Taylor,” Palmer said on Tuesday.

Palmer also wanted the officers involved in the shooting death to be arrested. Officer Brett Hankison shot “blindly,” 10 times during the incident and was fired in June. Officer Myles Cosgrove and Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly are on administrative leave in addition to the officer who applied for the warrant.

“It is time to move forward with the criminal charges because she deserves that and much more,” Palmer said.

Palmer was joined by her family, supporters and lawyers representing the family at Louisville City Hall. Mayor Greg Fischer extended his sympathies to the grieving Palmer.

“I cannot begin to imagine Ms. Palmer’s pain, and I am deeply, deeply sorry for Breonna’s death,” Fischer said.

Breonna Taylor honored by Oprah Magazine (Social media)

As theGrio reported, the deal struck between the city of Louisville and Taylor’s estate includes “significant” police reforms, new drug testing rules for LMPD officers, and an incentive for officers to live in specific neighborhoods. There will also be a requirement that search warrants be approved by commanding officers.

Taylor shared in a recent interview how Taylor’s death was also impacting Kenneth Walker, her boyfriend at the time. The two had plans to marry.

“He has always told me he was going to marry her,” Palmer said. “They reminded you of two little old people yelling at each other trying to tell each other what to do — mostly her trying to tell him what to do — but you couldn’t break them apart.”

Breonna Taylor and Kenneth Walker (Credit: Breonna Taylor and Kenneth Walker)

Walker was with Taylor when officers charged her apartment on March 13. He suspected a break in and fired his gun for which he had a permit.

The officers shot back, striking Taylor eight times. She died almost instantly and Walker was charged with attempted murder and assault. The charges were dropped and he has now filed a civil suit against Louisville police and the city.

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