The Killing of Breonna Taylor~
The Daily- The Killing Of Breonna Taylor Pt.1 and 2
The Daily, a production of the NY Times, gets right what so many get wrong. This isn’t an episode discussing the death of Breonna Taylor. It’s about the murder of Breonna Taylor. The inference of the former depicts this as a random death when,in truth, she was summarily slaughtered by the very people charged with “protect and serve.”
These two episodes of The Daily break down events leading up to the murder of Breonna Taylor as well as the other people affected by her death. It very clearly breaks down the timeline of events, in addition to giving background stories of everyone involved.
One of the many terrible crimes committed against Breonna and her family has been the complete dehumanization of her personhood. Part 1 brings Breonna Taylor, the person, into focus. She’s depicted with both color and dimension from her early years up until the moment of the crime. The Daily doesn’t attempt to paper over her relationship with her former boyfriend. They also don’t victimize her again by pretending that she didn’t recognize a bad choice. Who hasn’t made a bad relationship choice in their twenties?
As episode one progresses, episode host Rukmini Callimachi narrates~
“…it bears noting that he seems to enter her life at what was ostensibly a low point. She had started college. But she dropped out because she felt homesick and was really missing her family. She got her E.M.T. certification and began working as a first responder, riding ambulances. But a year into that job, she quit. On social media, she says that she was discouraged by the 16-hour shifts and by the low pay. And pretty soon into her relationship with Jamarcus, his problems become her problems.”
Breonna Taylor had plans. She had dreams. At age 26, Breonna was finally coming into her own. She breaks up with Jamarcus Glover. She starts working two jobs at the hospital. Breonna Taylor was going places.
“…After leaving her job as an E.M.T., she got back on her feet. And she got a job as an emergency room technician. She picked up a second shift. And she was now working basically two jobs at this E.R. and at another hospital…
…And you see that her life, according to her social media posts, is really on this positive trajectory. She’s bought herself a new car. She’s going to save up for a home. And crucially, in mid-February, she appears to break up for good with Jamarcus Glover. And the reason I say for good is there’s evidence that’s come out since then that indicates that she actually blocked him on her cell phone…”
The Daily then introduces us to the next victim in this story, Kenneth Walker, Breonna Taylor’s current boyfriend and the man with her in the apartment that evening. Kenny has been with Breonna on and off a long time. They were getting serious now with Jamarcus out of the picture. Kenny is able to give us a very clear picture of a future he thought included Breonna.
Part 2
On March 12, the day of the murder, Kenny tells Rumiki that he and Breonna were relaxing. She’d spent the previous few days working overnight shifts at the hospital. They went to dinner at Outback Steakhouse and were back at her apartment around 9pm.
Breonna lived with her younger sister and goddaughter, who was only two years old. Ruminate on this fact, as you listen to the rest of the night’s events unfold.
There was supposed to be a younger woman and a toddler in the house.
Breonna only chose to bring Kenny back to her place because her younger sister and goddaughter were out for the evening.
Kenny and Breonna played a game of UNO. She started falling asleep so they went into the bedroom, put on a movie, and drifted off.
The next time Breonna Taylor would wake up is when a bevy of police officers would be pounding on her door in the middle of the night. It was 12:35 in the morning.
BANG. Breonna and Kenny both startle awake. They ask who’s at the door. They heard no response. (Currently, the LPD claims there was an announcement, while numerous other eyewitness accounts dispute that statement. It’s clear from Kenny’s initial statements that he and Breonna didn’t hear any announcement.)
BANG. Breonna and Kenny yell for an answer as to who is at the door. Again. there was no response.
BANG. Both Breonna and Kenny are yelling “at the top of our lungs” asking who is at the door.
Rukmini tells us. “…And in the confusion of all that happened, Kenny puts on Breonna’s pants. That’s how scared and startled they both were…”
One of the things that make podcasts unique is the ability to layer actual audio footage. You hear both Kenny Walker and Officer Jon Mattingly give their accounts as The Daily counts down the last minutes of Breonna Taylor’s life.
Kenny Walker has a legal licensed handgun, which he has never used outside of a gun range. Someone is banging on his door, threatening to invade Breaonna’s home and possibly harm them. He does what anyone, including what so many second amendment supporters, would do. He goes for the gun. At the moment the apartment is being invaded, Kenny fires the gun. He doesn’t even know who he’s firing at. He fires exactly one shot.
George Zimmerman was acquitted for killing an unarmed teenage boy outside because he was “standing his ground.” Kenny Walker is unable to use self defense in a scenario where he and Breonna Taylor are alone in her home. Sleeping.
This one shot hits an officer in the leg.
In the next few minutes we learn that officers unload thirty-two rounds of ammunition into Breonna Taylor’s apartment. Officer Brett Hankison runs outside and blindly starts firing into the apartment. Medics are called, there’s an attempt to crash a gate in order to get the injured cop out to a waiting ambulance. All of this effort expended for this one officer, shot in the leg.
Meanwhile, Breonna Taylor’s blood runs from her body. She is dying on her own floor. This woman they were so intent on capturing is unattended. After all of that manpower, tactical gear, and spent ammunition not a single officer remained in the apartment.
Kenny Walker has to call 911 to receive assistance. He’s sobbing throughout the call.
He calls Breonna’s mother. It’s here that we learn he’s so dazed and confused by what’s happened that he finally realizes it’s the police who have done this. They’re yelling from the safety of a parking lot for him to come outside. After all of this trauma, Kenny Walker has to go outside with his hands up and surrender to the very people who invaded Breonna’s home and shot her to death. As the neighbors are recording, Kenny is cuffed, and led away. It’s 12.49 am.
Breonna Taylor was still lying dead on the floor. Alone.
It took police 14 minutes to invade Breonna’s apartment, snuff out her life, and take her boyfriend into custody.
We now know that Breonna Taylor was shot 6 times. Officer Brett Hankison, who ran outside the building and began firing into the apartment, was indicted for “wanton endangerment” but not for Breonna Taylor’s death. He was released on a $15,000 bond.
The other officers involved were not indicted for any of their actions on that day.
Not a single person will serve time for the murder of Breonna Taylor. However, Kenneth Walker served 69 days for the first degree assault and attempted murder of a police officer. On June 16, his lawyer filed to dismiss all charges against him.
No drugs or money were found in the apartment.
This is your America.
You can find these episodes of The Daily, along with transcripts here~
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