LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Some Louisville faith leaders are demanding prosecution of the three officers involved in the fatal shooting of 26-year-old former EMT, Breonna Taylor.
The Interdenominational Ministerial Coalition wants LMPD to also suspend the officers without pay.
“This is a shame; it is a disgrace that Breonna had to lose her life so violently at the hand of public service," president of the IMC, Dr. Frank Smith said.
The group announced the demands on a zoom call Tuesday.
Sgt. Jon Mattingly and Detectives Brett Hankison and Myles Cosgrove were placed on administrative reassignment after the deadly shooting.
The group said given what transpired that early morning, LMPD needs to hold the officers accountable.
“Other tactics could have been used that could have prevented Breonna Taylor’s death," Smith said.
The group said it is unfair for the officers to be compensated while a family and the community is still waiting for answers to why Taylor was killed.
“Given the impact of [the officers'] actions, we feel it is unjust for them to continue receiving compensation inclusive of Black tax dollars as LMPD officers," Smith said. "It is also unfair for them to be compensated off the clock with other security contract work benefiting from their active roles on the police force.”
In a statement sent to WHAS11, Mayor Greg Fischer said he knows people are anxious for quick answers, but said: “let’s keep in mind that this is a complicated issue, and there is an investigation underway right now to find the truth.”
The case was handed down to the FBI, US Attorney, and the Kentucky Attorney General for review.
The lawsuit against LMPD alleges the three officers were blindly shooting from the outside of Breonna Taylor’s home just after midnight on March 13th. Images show the bullets struck various objects in the home’s living room, bathroom, hallway, and both bedrooms. Attorneys believe several of the gunshots traveled as far as into the next-door neighbor’s home where a five-year-old child and pregnant mother were living.
Taylor's boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, said he thought intruders were breaking in and fired one shot that reportedly struck Sgt. Mattingly in the leg.
“We believe that to heed our call will send a clear message to this community and this nation that you are serious about correcting the prevailing problem of excessive deadly force," Smith said.
The IMC and the NAACP will hold a forum in West Louisville Wednesday to discuss how to 'stop the course of deadly force' in the Louisville Metro Police Department.
More on Breonna Taylor
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