A federal judge has dismissed major felony charges against two former Louisville police officers accused of falsifying a warrant that led to the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor. The judge ruled that Taylor’s boyfriend, who fired a shot at police during the raid, was the legal cause of her death, not the faulty warrant. The charges against the officers were reduced to misdemeanors, though a conspiracy charge against one officer and a false statements charge against another were upheld.
When police executed a drug warrant at Taylor’s apartment in March 2020, her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, fired a shot at the officers, believing them to be intruders. In the ensuing exchange of gunfire, Taylor was killed. The judge concluded that Walker’s actions were the legal cause of Taylor’s death, not the officers’ actions. The family of Breonna Taylor expressed disappointment with the judge’s ruling and stated their intention to continue fighting for justice.
The U.S. Justice Department is reviewing the judge’s decision and considering next steps in the case. A third former officer involved in the warrant case, Kelly Goodlett, has pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge and is expected to testify against the other officers at their trials. Federal prosecutors alleged that Detective Joshua Jaynes, who obtained the Taylor warrant, had misled another officer about the contents of the warrant before it was served.
One of the officers charged in connection with Taylor’s death, Brett Hankison, is also facing federal charges for endangering the lives of Taylor, Walker, and their neighbors when he fired into Taylor’s apartment. Hankison’s trial ended in a hung jury last year, but he is scheduled to be retried on those charges in October. The case has drawn national attention and has sparked conversations about police violence and accountability.
Despite the setback in the criminal case against the former officers, the family of Breonna Taylor remains determined to seek justice for her. The judge’s ruling has reignited calls for police reform and accountability, as activists and community members continue to demand justice for Taylor and other victims of police violence. The outcome of this case will have far-reaching implications for how law enforcement officers are held accountable for their actions and the level of transparency required in police investigations.
