Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal slammed for defending cops in Breonna Taylor death

Former NBA stars Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal are facing a wave of criticism after appearing to sympathize with the officers involved in the high-profile shooting of Breonna Taylor in March.

During TNT’s pregame show before Thursday’s NBA game between the Lakers and the Nuggets, Barkley said the death of Taylor at her Louisville home was not the same as other incidents that have dominated the news in the U.S. recent years.

Taylor was shot dead after police arrived at her door using a no-knock warrant, and her boyfriend, saying he believed an intruder had barged in, shot at those who came through the door, hitting a policeman.

“You know, we have to take into account that her boyfriend did shoot at the cops and shot a cop,” Barkley said, according to CBS Philly . “So, like I say, even though I’m really sorry she lost her life I don’t think we can put this in the same situation as George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery, I just don’t believe that.”

Former NBA great Shaquille O’Neal, who was also on the TNT panel with Barkley, came to his co-host’s defence and also become the subject of backlash.

With all due respect to the TNT crew, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron did not present the full story in his public comments. He presented half-truths to shape a narrative. The police were careless and reckless and tried to cover their ass https://t.co/AmSj4eZwnJ

— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) September 25, 2020

“I have to agree with Charles, this one is sort of lumped in,” said O’Neal, an honorary deputy city marshal in Georgia. “You have to get a warrant signed and some states do allow no-knock warrants. And everyone was asking for murder charges. When you talk about murder, you have to show intent.

“A homicide occurred and we’re sorry a homicide occurred. When you have a warrant signed by the judge, you are doing your job, and I would imagine that you would fire back.”

The comments sparked a quick, mostly negative response on Twitter. “With all due respect to the TNT crew, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron did not present the full story in his public comments,” said sports journalist Jemele Hill. “He presented half-truths to shape a narrative.

“The police were careless and reckless and tried to cover their a–.”

In recent days one officer involved on the night of Taylor’s death was charged in relation to the incident, but the charge was for endangering others at the scene after he shot into an adjacent home — not for her killing.