The officer who returned fire after being shot while serving a warrant that ultimately ended in the death of Breonna Taylor is planning on suing those who called him a “murderer.”
Louisville Metro Police Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly, who was hit when Taylor’s boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, shot at him as the officers made an announced entry.
In the aftermath of the incident, KY Attorney General Daniel Cameron said Mattingly and another officer, Myles Cosgrove, acted in self-defense.
An FBI evaluation revealed that one of Cosgrove’s bullets ultimately ended Taylor’s life.
Only former officer Brett Hankison has been charged with a crime in the incident.
According to USA Today, Mattingly sent an email to over 1,000 of his colleagues, letting them know before the grand jury decision that they should stand tall.
“You DO NOT DESERVE to be in this position,” he wrote. “The position that allows thugs to get in your face and yell, curse and degrade you. Throw bricks, bottles and urine on you and expect you to do nothing.”
Mattingly, who had an artery severed during the shootout, now has the legal help of Todd McMurtry, who represented Covington Catholic student Nick Sandmann.
McMurtry said he represented Mattingly “with regard to affirmative claims he has against people who called him a ‘murderer.’ These statements are defamatory and actionable.”
McMurtry posted video to Twitter, showing footage of Mattingly being carted off after being hit.
“This is the raw video of Louisville officer Sgt. John Mattingly shortly after Kenneth Walker shot him,” he wrote. “They called him a “murderer,” when all he did was defend himself.”
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