Simon & Schuster PULLS plans to distribute book by officer who was shot by Breonna Taylor's boyfriend during raid that killed her
One of the Louisville police officers who was shot when cops fired at Breonna Taylor during the deadly raid on her apartment is writing a book about the shooting but it won't be distributed as planned by Simon & Schuster.
Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly, 48, and another officer fired shots that hit Taylor during the March 13, 2020, narcotics raid.
Mattingly was shot in the leg by Taylor's boyfriend. Taylor, a 26-year-old black emergency medical worker, died at the scene, but no drugs were found in the apartment.
Mattingly's book will be titled 'The Fight For Truth: The Inside Story Behind the Breonna Taylor Tragedy' and is set to be published later this year.
It will be published by Tennessee-based Post Hill Press, The Courier Journal reported. The company website said it publishes 'current events, Christian and conservative political books,' among other topics. It has a deal to have its books distributed by Simon & Schuster, which earlier Thursday indicated it could not refuse Post Hill titles.
But late Thursday, Simon & Schuster released a statement saying it would not be involved in Mattingly's book.
Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly is writing a book called 'The Fight For Truth: The Inside Story Behind the Breonna Taylor Tragedy'; it is set to be published later this year
Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly, 48, and another officer fired shots that hit Taylor during the March 13, 2020, narcotics raid. Mattingly was shot in the leg by Taylor's boyfriend. Taylor, a 26-year-old Black emergency medical worker, died at the scene, but no drugs were found in the apartment
'Like much of the American public, earlier today Simon & Schuster learned of plans by distribution client Post Hill Press to publish a book by Jonathan Mattingly,' the publishing house said in a statement. 'We have subsequently decided not be involved in the distribution of this book.'
In a statement to The Associated Press, a publicist for Post Hill Press said the company supports its authors' free speech rights and that Mattingly "deserves to have his account of the tragic events heard publicly."
News of Mattingly's book drew online criticism Thursday.
Kentucky state Rep. Attica Scott, a Democrat, wrote on Twitter that 'People love to profit off of Black pain and tragedy. It sells.'
Post Hill Press books are distributed by Simon & Schuster. Other authors include Dan Bongino and embattled Congressman Matt Gaetz.
Two other officers, Myles Cosgrove left, and Officer Brett Hankison, right, who fired their guns during the raid have been dismissed
Mattingly, 48, was shot in the leg by Taylor's boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, who said he fired a single shot after fearing an intruder was breaking into the apartment
Mattingly said in October last year: 'There is no playbook for this. There's no guidebook that says, when you're in these types of incidents, here's what you do, here's what your family needs to do...there's nothing.'
In September 2020 he wrote an email which read: 'I know we did the legal, moral and ethical thing that night. It's sad how the good guys are demonized, and criminals are canonized.'
Mattingly, 48, was shot in the leg by Taylor's boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, who said he fired a single shot after fearing an intruder was breaking into the apartment.
Mattingly was recently reprimanded by Louisville's police chief for the September email that was critical of department leadership and protesters.
He remains on the department. Two other officers who fired their guns during the raid have been dismissed.
Post Hill Press books are distributed by Simon & Schuster and Mattingly's book is expected to be released in the fall. Other authors include conservative commentator Dan Bongino and embattled Congressman Matt Gaetz.
People gather in front of Louisville City Hall during a protest against the deaths of Breonna Taylor by Louisville police and George Floyd by Minneapolis police, in Louisville May 29, 2020
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