Federal judge absolves ex-officers in Breonna Taylor case, blames her boyfriend instead

A federal judge's decision cleared two former police officers of felony charges related to Breonna Taylor's fatal shooting and instead pointed to Taylor's boyfriend as the cause of her death. 

Judge's Ruling on Kenneth Walker's Actions

 Judge Charles Simpson dropped the felony charges against former Louisville Police Detective Joshua Jaynes and former Sergeant Kyle Meany. He concluded that Taylor’s boyfriend, Kenneth Walker's actions, who fired a shot at police the night of the raid, were the legal cause of her death, not a flawed warrant.

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland initially announced federal charges against Jaynes and Meany in August 2022, alleging they knowingly falsified part of the warrant, endangering the life of 26-year-old Black woman, Breonna Taylor. The city of Louisville agreed to pay Walker $2 million to settle lawsuits filed while anti-police protests erupted after George Floyd's death in Minneapolis.

Judge's Conclusion

In his ruling, Judge Simpson stated that there was no direct link between the warrantless entry and Taylor’s death. He emphasized that Walker's actions disrupted the events leading to Taylor's death and ultimately classified the charges against Jaynes and Meany as misdemeanors, reducing their maximum sentence from life in prison.

Meany's attorney expressed satisfaction with the ruling, while Jaynes' attorney stated their grief at the judge's decision and their intent to appeal. Taylor's family expressed their disagreement with the ruling and their determination to continue fighting for Taylor's justice. The Justice Department is currently reviewing the judge’s decision and considering the next steps.

A third former officer charged in the federal warrant case, Kelly Goodlett, pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge and is expected to testify against Jaynes and Meany at their trials. A fourth former officer, Brett Hankison, was also charged with endangering the lives of Taylor, Walker, and some of her neighbors when he fired into Taylor’s windows. He is scheduled to be retried on those charges in October.