A federal judge in Louisville has dismissed major felony charges against two former officers involved in the case of Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old Black woman who was fatally shot by police during a raid in 2020. U.S. District Judge Charles Simpson ruled that Taylor’s boyfriend, who fired a shot at police during the raid, was the legal cause of her death, not the falsified warrant that led the police to her door.
Former Louisville Police Detective Joshua Jaynes and former Sgt. Kyle Meany had faced charges for falsifying the warrant that led to the fatal raid at Taylor’s apartment. The judge’s ruling effectively reduced the charges against the officers from civil rights violations to misdemeanors, but declined to dismiss a conspiracy charge against Jaynes and a false statement charge against Meany. The ruling stated that Taylor’s boyfriend’s actions disrupted the series of events that led to her death when he fired at police believing it was an intruder.
Taylor’s family expressed devastation at the judge’s ruling and stated that they will continue to fight for justice for Breonna Taylor. The U.S. Justice Department is currently reviewing the ruling and considering next steps.
A third officer charged in the case, Kelly Goodlett, pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge and is expected to testify against Jaynes and Meany. The case also involves a fourth officer, Brett Hankison, who is facing charges for endangering Taylor, her boyfriend, and neighbors during the raid. A previous trial for Hankison ended with a hung jury, and he is scheduled to be retried in October.
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