Biden blasts Republicans in statement about deadly Louisville shooting



After a shooter perpetrated a deadly attack at a bank in Louisville, Kentucky, on Monday, President Joe Biden criticized Republicans in a statement.

A 23-year-old employee of Old National Bank perpetrated the shooting, which left four victims dead and others wounded. One of those wounded was 26-year-old Nickolas Wilt, who had recently graduated from the police academy on March 31, Louisville Metro Police Department interim chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel said. "I just swore him in," she said. She noted that he had been "struck in the head," and that he had "come out of brain surgery" and was in "critical but stable condition."

Authorities were fired upon and returned fire, Gwinn-Villaroel said, noting that the suspect is dead.

\u201cOfficer Nickolas Wilt, a new officer to the LMPD, ran towards the gunfire today to save lives. He remains in critical condition after being shot in the head.\u201d
— LMPD (@LMPD) 1681155973

Biden blasted Republicans in a statement about the deadly shooting.

"Jill and I are praying for those killed and injured in the tragic shooting in Louisville, and for the survivors who will carry grief and trauma for the rest of their lives. We are grateful to the Louisville Metropolitan Police Department officers who quickly and courageously stepped into the line of fire to save others," Biden said in a statement before pivoting to bash Republicans.

"How many more Americans must die before Republicans in Congress will act to protect our communities? It's long past time that we require safe storage of firearms. Require background checks for all gun sales. Eliminate gun manufacturers' immunity from liability. We can and must do these things now.

"A strong majority of Americans want lawmakers to act on commonsense gun safety reforms. Instead, from Florida to North Carolina to the U.S. House of Representatives, we’ve watched Republican officials double down on dangerous bills that make our schools, places of worship, and communities less safe. It’s unconscionable, it’s reckless, and too many Americans are paying with their lives," Biden said in the statement.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Democratic Louisville mayor punched in face, knocked to ground at Juneteenth event — and mockery follows: 'Just peacefully protesting, nothing to see here'



Surveillance video caught the moment Greg Fischer — the Democratic mayor of Louisville, Kentucky — was punched in the face and knocked to the ground at a Juneteenth event Saturday in the city's downtown area. Police are still looking for the suspect.

Here's the clip:

\u201cPolice in Louisville, Kentucky, are searching for a suspect they believe punched the city\u2019s mayor at a popular downtown event complex\n\n\u201cEarlier this evening, while at Fourth Street Live, Mayor (Greg) Fischer was punched by an individual,\u201d the Louisville (1/2)\n\n#GregFischer\u201d
— Dre Lockhart \uf8ff (@Dre Lockhart \uf8ff) 1655700343

What are the details?

According to WLKY-TV — which characterized the Fourth Street Live! event where Fischer was punched as a "Juneteenth celebration" — police said the blow caught the mayor in the face while he was talking to someone in the crowd.

Video shows the punch knocking Fischer to the ground.

WAVE-TV said an individual who appeared to be part of Fischer's security team briefly followed the suspect after the punch and then appeared to return to Fischer.

Emergency medical services evaluated the mayor and determined he didn't need medical treatment, WLKY reported.

The mayor's office didn't address how the suspect got past security and escaped, WLKY added.

"While it's not appropriate to comment on specifics of that [security] detail, it is always being evaluated and adjusted as needed," Jessica Wethington, the mayor's director of communications, told WLKY. "There have been no changes made to the mayor's events."

Police are still looking for the suspect, WKLY said, adding that Louisville Metro Police Department released photos of the suspect:

\u201cEarlier this evening, while at Fourth Street Live, Mayor Fischer was punched by an individual. The Mayor is doing fine. LMPD is investigating & will release further information as it becomes available. Anyone with information can call our anonymous tip line at 502-574-5673.\u201d
— LMPD (@LMPD) 1655600350

Greg Gitschier — a former Secret Service agent and former bodyguard of the mayor — told WHAS-TV that "it's becoming an upside-down world because lines that were never crossed so much in the past now seem to no longer matter."

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer addresses punch, no arrests made still youtu.be

'Just peacefully protesting, nothing to see here'

Many commenters unleashed mockery on Louisville police's Facebook post about the punch, with most of the derision directed toward Fischer, implying that the mayor's policies led to the physical attack on him.

"Karma. What you allow will continue. You have allowed crime to run unabashed. It will continue," one commenter wrote.

"Just peacefully protesting, nothing to see here," another commenter quipped.

Others told city police that Fischer wants them to "stand down" and not go after the suspect — presumably a reference to the claim from at least 100 officers that Fischer wanted them to "stand down" amid violent 2020 protests. The officers also wanted Fischer to resign, but the mayor denied he gave a "stand down" directive.

In addition, hundreds of officers were caught on video walking out on Fischer when he arrived to address them at an early June 2020 roll call. The officers reportedly didn't feel supported by the mayor amid violence and looting. In September 2020 the city council declared it had "no confidence" in Fischer.

Other commenters lauded the suspect who punched Fischer, saying the suspect deserves a "medal" for the blow that knocked the mayor off his feet.

"Honestly, it couldn’t have happened to a finer man," one commenter said of Fischer, while another said "maybe he should have taken care of crime in Louisville."

Violence erupts in American cities on anniversary of Breonna Taylor's death



There were several protests in American cities on Saturday, which was the one-year anniversary of Breonna Taylor's death. Some of the peaceful protests escalated into unrest and violence.

In Louisville, crowds gathered to call for justice for Taylor, who was shot and killed by a Louisville Metro Police Department officer when a raid turned deadly after her boyfriend Kenneth Walker exchanged gunfire in the early hours of March 13, 2020. The LMPD declared an unlawful assembly after protesters were "blocking the roadway and forcing vehicles, while armed, to turn around."

Protesters are in the 1300 block of River Road. They have been blocking the roadway and forcing vehicles, while arm… https://t.co/cOBt5ktoks
— LMPD (@LMPD)1615689050.0

While the protests in Louisville were peaceful, the same can not be said for Seattle, Portland, and Los Angeles.

In Seattle, video from Campus Reform senior correspondent Blair Nelson shows black bloc malcontents clash with police officers.

(Content Warning: Graphic video):

Protestors are pushed back and sprayed by police with mace. #BLM #Seattle #BreonnaTaylor #antifa https://t.co/e8CG2PJvF3
— Blair Nelson (@Blair Nelson)1615704536.0


Pepper-spray deployed as police rush into the crowd marching in the street in Seattle this Saturday night #Seattle… https://t.co/kOFkW8JTwb
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@Brendan Gutenschwager)1615704488.0

Photojournalist Brendan Gutenschwager shared a video of protesters telling police officers to "jump" off a skyway over a road in Seattle, where there were reported to be 100 black bloc agitators. A Starbucks was spray-painted with graffiti and windows were smashed by the mob. The Seattle Police Department said they made 13 arrests, including one for assault on an officer.

The crowd chants “Jump!” at police officers filming from a skyway over the road here in Seattle #Seattle… https://t.co/lKUcNYQmDV
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@Brendan Gutenschwager)1615704952.0


Starbucks windows smashed as the crowd makes their way through Seattle #Seattle https://t.co/SQDBjakERZ
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@Brendan Gutenschwager)1615702684.0

In Portland, where unrest has happened regularly for months, there were several acts of violence on Saturday night. Protesters marched towards the Mark O. Hatfield U.S. Courthouse, which is where rioters set fires on Thursday. Vandals spray-painted "police are murderers" on the federal courthouse. Rioters attempted to knock down the plywood boards protecting the courthouse in video provided by KOIN-TV reporter Jennifer Dowling.

Just prior to these comments, some people were kicking & punching the plywood boards on the federal courthouse buil… https://t.co/f0BIIoPhcC
— Jennifer Dowling (@Jennifer Dowling)1615705695.0

In Los Angeles, several storefronts were destroyed by violent rioters.

Andy Ngô, editor-at-large at the Post Millennial, shared video of the damage with the caption: "Antifa smashed out windows and vandalized businesses in Los Angeles overnight in a riot organized for Breonna Taylor."

#Antifa smashed out windows and vandalized businesses in Los Angeles overnight in a riot organized for Breonna Tayl… https://t.co/GFPYq1yeVy
— Andy Ngô (@Andy Ngô)1615709233.0


Antifa riot on the streets of Los Angeles overnight by smashing up businesses and property. #AntifaRiots https://t.co/hkiMe3iKKN
— Andy Ngô (@Andy Ngô)1615709340.0


Los Angeles: #Antifa held a violent protest to honor Breonna Taylor. It was organized by the local cell for the You… https://t.co/BfLYw0scpW
— Andy Ngô (@Andy Ngô)1615709073.0

Many of the protesters in L.A. were seen wielding black shields with white fists painted on them, and some were waving Antifa flags.

Videographer Tomas Morales was reporting from Hollywood, where he wrote, "Antifa/BLM smashed windows of a CVS & an Asian Grill tonight for Breonna Taylor. BLM/Antifa spray painted all along Gower street in Hollywood for Breonna Taylor."

Hollywood: Antifa/BLM smashed windows of a CVS & an Asian Grill tonight for Breonna Taylor https://t.co/9wfkYMSWcv
— Tomas Morales (@Tomas Morales)1615700028.0


Moments Ago: BLM/Antifa spray painted all along Gower street in Hollywood for Breonna Taylor https://t.co/mMkLqARb7D
— Tomas Morales (@Tomas Morales)1615697570.0

Elijah Schaffer, BlazeTV host of "Slightly Offens*ve," wrote, "Black bloc antifa member assaults a man on Hollywood blvd, pushing him to the ground Shortly before this incident antifa were breaking shop windows."

LOS ANGELES: black bloc antifa member assaults a man on Hollywood blvd, pushing him to the ground Shortly before… https://t.co/DJpJzPd7SG
— ELIJAH SCHAFFER (@ELIJAH SCHAFFER)1615699624.0

President Joe Biden tweeted about the Breonna Taylor death on Saturday.

"Breonna Taylor's death was a tragedy, a blow to her family, her community, and America," Biden wrote. "As we continue to mourn her, we must press ahead to pass meaningful police reform in Congress. I remain committed to signing a landmark reform bill into law."

Biden called Antifa an "idea" during the 2020 presidential debate in September.

Louisville Metro Police release findings from Breonna Taylor investigation: Here's what's in the massive file



The Louisville Metro Police Department has released the findings from its internal investigation into the case of Breonna Taylor's death. The investigation, which was carried out by LMPD's Public Integrity Unit, has 4,470 pages of investigative reports, interviews, and evidence reports, as well as hundreds of photos, 251 videos, 148 of which are interviews, and 57 are from body cameras.

Around 12:40 a.m. on March 13, Breonna Taylor was fatally shot by the Louisville Metro Police Department officers after they executed a "no-knock warrant," and forced entry into her apartment in Louisville, Kentucky. Officers said that they announced themselves as police before entering because they considered the operation to be low-risk. Taylor's boyfriend, Kenneth Walker said he did not hear any announcement, and mistakenly believed the cops to be home invaders.

Walker fired a shot, hitting officer Jonathan Mattingly in the leg. Investigators claim that police returned fire, and 32 rounds were shot into the apartment. Six rounds struck Taylor, killing her quickly.

The files released by LMPD include hundreds of photos, including over 1,200 images taken from the bullet-ridden apartment that features a shattered sliding glass door, and shell casings strewn on the ground near the front door.

There are photos of the blood-soaked wallet and pants of Mattingly, who was struck in his femoral artery and required emergency surgery. There are photos of Walker's Glock 9mm gun that was recovered under the bed inside the apartment. Walker was a licensed gun owner in Kentucky.

The report includes transcripts of video interviews from Kenneth Walker, who told investigators than he and Taylor were "scared to death" when they heard banging on the apartment door. He feared it was Taylor's ex-boyfriend, Jamarcus Glover.

There are interviews with LMPD officers involved with the Breonna Taylor case, including Detective Myles Cosgrove, Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly, and Detective Brett Hankison, who fired their weapons into the apartment. Hankinson was fired from the LMPD in June after being accused of "wantonly and blindly" firing 10 rounds into Taylor's apartment "without supporting facts" that his "deadly force was directed at a person."

In an interview with authorities, Mattingly claimed that the raid team knocked on Taylor's door six or seven times, and yelled, "Police, search warrant!" He estimated that the team knocked for about 45 seconds to a minute. After no response, they used a battering ram to breach the door.

"As soon as I cleared it, I'm face on, about probably 20 feet away right down the hallway," Mattingly said. "There's a bedroom door on the right and there's a - the male and the female."

Mattingly claimed there was a man in a "stretched out position with his hands, with a gun."

"And as soon as I clear, he fires - boom," he said. "My mind's going, this ain't right. You know, something's off here. Because all of the doors I've made entry and I've never seen this."

"Soon as the shot hit, I could feel heat in my leg. And so I just returned fire," Mattingly explained.

It also includes interviews with detectives Tony James, Michael Campbell, Michael Nobles, and Joshua Jaynes, who sought the warrant at Breonna's address.

Jaynes claimed that Glover was receiving "suspicious" mail at Taylor's apartment, which was allegedly "verified through a postal inspector." On May 19, he admitted that he didn't have evidence that the parcels Glover was receiving at her home were suspicious. Instead, Jaynes asked Mattingly to verify the deliveries. According to a report by the Public Integrity Unit reported by the Daily Mail, Mattingly told Jaynes that "Glover was not receiving suspicious packages at the address."

Jaynes claimed that he had a feeling that the packages were suspicious through his "training and experience." Jaynes admitted that he "could have worded it a little bit differently there." He insisted that he was not trying to mislead the judge, who signed the warrant.

"It was just in my opinion, that when I reach out to [Mattingly], the end-all-be-all was gonna be from a US Postal Inspector Office or the post office," Jaynes.

Jaynes was placed on administrative reassignment after the shooting. No drugs were found at Taylor's home.

There are interviews with Shively Police Department officers, who reportedly told LMPD officers that Taylor was not getting packages for Glover delivered to her apartment.

There are also interviews with S.W.A.T. officers that arrived on the scene, including Lt. Dale Massey, who described the execution of the warrant as an "egregious act."

Sgt. Michael Burns told investigators that Jaynes never mentioned that the LMPD was conducting a raid and the S.W.A.T. team was unaware of the raid. "(That warrant) was mentioned in our brief, but it made it seem like it was gonna be down the road and it was a low-risk search warrant," Burns said.

A key witness who police claim heard officers announce their presence at Taylor's apartment, but the neighbor said the exact opposite in his initial interview, according to The Courier-Journal.

Taylor's autopsy report showed that one bullet likely killed the 26-year-old after it struck her pulmonary artery and severely damaged one of her lungs.

Also in the investigation, there is a Kentucky State Police ballistics report, which did not confirm or deny that Walker's gun was the weapon used to shoot the officer.

A search of Walker's cell phone "found numerous conversations about drug trafficking," the investigation discovered, according to the Daily Mail.

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said, "I urge all to be sensitive that these files contain information and images that are traumatic and painful."

Taylor's death at the hands of police has ignited anti-police brutality protests nationwide since the early summer.

Louisville police officer blasted 'woke' BLM, Antifa as 'punks' in email to colleagues — and then was relieved of her command



A Louisville Metropolitan Police Department officer is under investigation for an email she sent in August to her colleagues, dismissing Black Lives Matter and Antifa activists as "punks" unworthy of their attention and respect, NBC News reported.

LMPD Maj. Bridget Hallahan sent the email to the department's Fifth Division, which she leads. Interim Chief Robert Schroeder told NBC News on Friday that Hallahan had been relieved of her command of the division.

Hallahan is set to retire effective Oct. 1.

"I know it is hard to keep our thoughts and opinions to ourselves sometimes, especially when we, as a whole or as an individual, become the target of people in the public who criticize what we do without even knowing the facts," Hallahan wrote. "These ANTIFA and BLM people, especially the ones who just jumped on the bandwagon 'yesterday' because they became 'woke' (insert eye roll here), do not deserve a second glance or thought from us.

"Our little pinky toe nails have more character, morals, and ethics, than these punks have in their entire body," she continued. "Do not stoop to their level. Do not respond to them. If we do, we only validate what they did. Don't make them important, because they are not. They will be the ones washing our cars, cashing us out at the Walmart, or living in their parents' basement playing COD ["Call of Duty"] for their entire life."

How frustrated is @LMPD?A law enforcement source got me this August message from Maj. Bridget Hallahan to 5th Div… https://t.co/8zyoxedxqA
— Philmonger (@Philmonger)1600825430.0

Hallahan went on to invite her colleagues to come to her if they needed to vent about their problems.

Hallahan's frustrated message was sent to her coworkers after months of anti-police protests in Louisville because of the killing of Breonna Taylor in March. Protesters wanted the three police officers charged for Taylor's death, and some wanted the defunding or abolition of the police department.

Ultimately, only one of the three officers was charged in relation to the raid on Taylor's home. Former Sgt. Brett Hankison was charged with wanton endangerment for recklessly shooting into the apartment building, the same offense for which he was fired from the department in June.

LMPD spokesman Sgt. Lamont Washington said the department was aware of the email and looking further into the matter. Schroeder emphasized that the content represented Hallahan's opinion, and "do not represent the views of their department."

Hallahan accepted responsibility for the email and stood by it, telling NBC News her fellow officers have been supportive.

Breaking: Two police officers shot during violent protests in Louisville over Breonna Taylor



The Louisville Metro Police Dept. said that two officers had been shot during the violent protests in Louisville, Kentucky, over the charges announced against one officer related to the death of Breonna Taylor.

Black Lives Matter protesters immediately denounced the announcement of charges against only one of the officers involved the controversial shooting death that happened during a police raid in March.

Police initially said that one officer had been shot but offered few details about the incident.

Per an @LMPD spokesman just now, an officer has been shot. https://t.co/nkIRABHIj0
— Ben Tobin (@Ben Tobin)1600907991.0

Later they confirmed that two officers had been shot.

Louisville Metro Police confirm that TWO officers have been shot and were transported to Louisville University Hospital.
— Charlie Gile (@Charlie Gile)1600909595.0

Protesters took to the streets to demonstrate against the grand jury decision. Reporters and others on social media documented small fires being set off and firecrackers being fired off during many of the gatherings.

Reporters in the vicinity said that firecrackers were set off at about the same time as the gunshots.

Here's more about the incident:

Police officer shot in Louisville: Reportwww.youtube.com

Officer involved in Breonna Taylor's death sends message to fellow officers slamming protesters, FBI: 'Don't put up with their s**t'



A Louisville Metropolitan Police Department officer sent an email to approximately 1,000 fellow officers at 2 a.m. Tuesday criticizing protesters, city officials, department leadership, and the FBI as he awaits a decision on whether he will be charged in Breonna Taylor's death, Vice News reported.

The email, written by Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly and obtained by Vice News' Roberto Aram Ferdman, foreshadowed a "rough" period to come as the city braces for potential unrest if Mattingly, Officer Myles Cosgrove, and Sgt. Brett Hankison are not charged in Taylor's death this week.

New: LMPD Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly (who is being investigated as part of Breonna Taylor’s case) sent an email to aro… https://t.co/SZEgX3jHLd
— Roberto Aram Ferdman (@Roberto Aram Ferdman)1600779325.0

"No matter the ineptitude in upper command or the mayor's office, this is one of the greatest jobs on earth," Mattingly wrote. "With that being said, these next few days are going to be tough. They are going to be long, they are going to be frustrating. They will put a tremendous amount of stress on your families."

The Louisville Metro PD declared a state of emergency Monday in advance of an expected grand jury decision on whether to charge the three officers who executed the no-knock search warrant on Taylor's home the night they shot and killed her. Hankison was fired, but Mattingly and Cosgrove are still with the department on administrative leave.

Mattingly told the other officers in the email that they didn't deserve the abuse they will potentially face from protesters in coming days.

"You DO NOT DESERVE to be in this position," Mattingly 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. It goes against EVERYTHING we were all taught in the academy. The position that if you make a mistake, during one of the most stressful times in your career, the department and FBI (who aren't cops and would piss their pants if they had to hold the line) go after you for civil rights violations. Your civil rights mean nothing, but the criminal has total autonomy."

Mattingly defended the officers' actions the night Taylor was killed. After the officers broke in the door of Taylor's apartment, Taylor's boyfriend shot at them, saying he believed it was a home invasion, and they returned fire with approximately 20 shots. Five of them hit Taylor, killing her.

"Regardless of the outcome today or Wednesday, I know we did the legal, moral, and ethical thing that night," Mattingly wrote. "It's sad how the good guys are demonized, and criminals are canonized. Put that aside for a while, keep your focus and do your jobs that you are trained and capable of doing. Don't put up with their s**t, and go home to those lovely families and relationships."

The officers had a warrant for Taylor because she was believed to be connected to her ex-boyfriend's drug trafficking operation. No drugs or money were found at her home.