More than six months after police fatally shot Breonna Taylor, the city says it will institute police reforms and pay her family $12 million
As part of the settlement, the city agreed to establish a housing credit program as an incentive for officers to live in the areas they serve; use social workers to provide support on certain police runs; and require commanders to review and approve search warrants before seeking judicial approval, among other changes.
“Justice for Breonna means that we will continue to save lives in her honor,” said Tamika Palmer, Taylor’s mother. “No amount of money accomplishes that, but the police reform measures that we were able to get passed as a part of this settlement mean so much more to my family, our community, and to Breonna’s legacy.”
Family attorney Benjamin Crump called the $12 million payout “historic” and said he believed it is one of the largest amounts ever paid out for a Black woman killed by police in the US.
Mayor Fischer said the city is not admitting wrongdoing in the agreement.
“I cannot begin to imagine Ms. Palmer’s pain,” Fischer said. “And I am deeply, deeply sorry for Breonna’s death.”
On Tuesday, Crump, attorney Lonita Baker and Palmer all continued to push for criminal charges against the officers involved.
No timeline for potential charges
Taylor’s boyfriend, who said he believed the home was being broken into, shot and injured an officer, and police killed Taylor in the return fire. There is no body camera footage of the incident, police said.
Until Freedom, a social justice organization that has protested in Louisville, released a statement Tuesday reacting to the city settlement.
“No amount of money will bring back Breonna Taylor,” the group said. “We see this settlement as the bare minimum you can do for a grieving mother. The city isn’t doing her any favors. True justice is not served with cash settlements. We need those involved in her murder to be arrested and charged. We need accountability. We need justice.”
The Louisville Metro Police Department declined to comment. The police union did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
One officer, Brett Hankinson, was fired in late June for “wantonly and blindly” firing 10 rounds into her apartment, then-interim Louisville Police Chief Robert Schroeder wrote.
A grand jury has been empaneled to investigate the shooting, though an announcement has not been made about those proceedings.
Cameron is expected to announce a charging decision soon. He has declined to provide a specific timeline.
Correction: An earlier version of this story misspelled the last name of Taylor’s family attorney. Sam Aguiar is their attorney.
CNN’s Jamiel Lynch contributed to this report.