Entertainment

New Audio From Breonna Taylor Shooting Raises Conflicting Stories

Those protesting across the world for justice in the police shooting of Breonna Taylor have truly made their voices heard in the four months since she was killed in her home during a no-knock search warrant. Now, the release of new audio tapes from the internal investigation provide conflicting reports from Taylor’s boyfriend and the officer who he shot as Louisville PD broke down their door, adding even more confusion to the whole ordeal.

Image: Patrick Smith/Getty Images

CNN reports that the new tapes feature interviews with Kenneth Walker, Breonna’s boyfriend who was present on the night of the shooting, and Sgt. Jon Mattingly, the first officer to enter the apartment and be injured by the gunshot that sparked the police gunfire which killed Taylor. The main conflict is whether or not the police properly identified themselves before breaking down the door, which Walker claims didn’t happen and as a result made him fire in self defense of what he thought was a burglary. Mattingly says otherwise, claiming he and his officers knocked multiple times with no response.

Here’s how CNN breaks down Sgt. Jon Mattingly’s recollection of the night Breonna Taylor was shot and killed:

The tapes also include an interview with Mattingly, conducted on March 25, nine days after his release from the hospital. Mattingly was interviewed with an attorney present.

In the interview, Mattingly maintains that officers identified themselves repeatedly before breaking down Taylor’s door.

Though the narcotics warrant that police say they were serving at Taylor’s door was a so-called no-knock warrant, Mattingly told investigators the officers were instructed to knock on the door.

Recounting the pre-operational briefing for the warrant at the recommendation of his attorney, Mattingly said, “I verbally heard, ‘We have it signed as a no-knock, but we’re not going to go that route.’”

Neither Mattingly nor Walker deny that the police officers banged on the door. Mattingly, however, told investigators that police repeatedly knocked on the door and announced their presence.

“I probably banged on the door six or seven different time periods,” Mattingly was recorded telling investigators. “Seems like an eternity when you’re up at a doorway. It probably lasted between 45 seconds and a minute,” he said.

“We banged on it, no response,” Mattingly said. “Banged on it again, no response. At that point we started announcing ourselves: ‘Police! Please come to the door! Police! We have a search warrant!’”

Walker agrees that the multiple knocks did happen, however neither he nor Taylor heard a response after repeatedly asking “Who is it?” As they approached the door, he says it came “off the hinges” leading him to shoot in defense. Sadly, only he would live to recount their side of the story.

We’ll continue to keep you all updated as we demand justice for Breonna Taylor along with the rest of the Black Lives Matter movement.

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Boosie Badazz Responds to Kewon White’s Claims About Dallas Shooting

Boosie Badazz is responding after Kewon White, the man recently convicted of killing Mo3, spoke about the 2020 shooting involving the Louisiana rapper and said he had multiple chances to kill him. Speaking from jail during an interview with Cam Capone News, White talked about his problems with Boosie’s behavior on a trip to Dallas after Mo3’s death. White told the rapper he shot at Boosie about 10 times but wasn’t trying to kill him. He claimed he had three opportunities to kill the rapper.

Boosie was shot in the leg in Dallas on November 14, 2020, days after Mo3 was killed and one day after Boosie attended a vigil for his late collaborator. Boosie has taken note of the new comments in part because White is currently appealing his murder conviction. Boosie also questioned why White would go public with information about the shooting while appealing his case.

In a reply on social media, Boosie wondered why White would do that, believing the jailhouse interviews might cause more problems for the convicted killer. He also objected to the decision to explore the particulars of Mo3’s death while trying to appeal the conviction. White was convicted this month of capital murder for shooting Mo3, whose real name was Melvin Noble, on a Dallas highway in 2020. White has filed a notice of appeal since.

So the timing of White’s comments has become a central part of Boosie’s reaction. Boosie didn’t address White’s allegations regarding the 2020 shooting but did ask why someone challenging a murder conviction would even talk about case details in public interviews.

The case has also included allegations against Yella Beezy. During White’s trial, prosecutors said Beezy paid White to kill Mo3. White has denied receiving any payment from Beezy, and Beezy has denied any involvement in the alleged murder plot.

White’s conviction and subsequent appeal have kept the case in the public conversation, and his recent jail interview added another chapter. His remarks on Boosie also address a violent period following Mo3’s death, during which Boosie traveled to Dallas and was shot. For Boosie, the problem is bigger than what happened in 2020. White’s choice to discuss the shooting while seeking an appeal has caused him to publicly question the strategy behind the interviews and the timing of the disclosures.

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DJ Vlad Challenges Boosie Badazz Over Federal Gun Case

DJ Vlad is taking his beef with Boosie Badazz to the next level, asking whether the rapper’s behavior in his federal gun case matches the anti snitching code he’s long imposed on others in hip hop.

In a new clip for VladTV, Vlad looked back at Boosie’s federal gun case and pointed to court documents he says show the rapper from Baton Rouge shifting blame onto his security guard. Vlad said the paperwork runs counter to Boosie’s long track record of publicly denouncing rappers he believes are snitching to authorities.

The latest row is another sign of an already frayed relationship. Boosie has been one of VladTV’s most frequent interview guests. Still, their relationship has soured over the years over issues involving interview payments, business dealings, and, most recently, Boosie’s push for a presidential pardon.

The pardon controversy has become a major part of the ongoing public beef between the rappers. Boosie reportedly paid $600,000 to two lobbyists, Jack Burkman and Jacob Wohl, to lobby President Donald Trump for a pardon in his federal gun case. When the pardon didn’t come through, Boosie accused them of misleading him and demanded $300,000 back. Burkman and Wohl have denied scamming Boosie, saying they were hired to advocate for him, not to promise a pardon.

Boosie went on 60 Minutes to discuss the issue, which brought more attention to the situation. He later complained about how the interview was portrayed and released purported messages involving the lobbyists while defending himself against claims his actions were snitching.

Vlad is now using the controversy to call Boosie out on a principle that has been a major talking point in the rapper’s public commentary. Vlad mentioned Boosie’s situation as part of other past hip-hop discussions he’s had with Gunna, Young Thug, T.I., and Gucci Mane.

“The court documents for Boosie’s federal gun case are another point of contention for Vlad. His case hinges on whether the rapper’s alleged remarks about his security guard should be measured by the same yardstick Boosie has used to measure other artists. The charge is particularly noteworthy as Boosie has cultivated a strong public persona against what he considers snitching. With that history, the latest exchange with Vlad is more personal, adding to a complicated fallout between the two.

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