A federal judge has dismissed major felony charges against two former Louisville officers accused of falsifying a warrant that led to the shooting of Breonna Taylor. U.S. District Judge Charles Simpson ruled that Taylor’s boyfriend’s actions, who fired a shot at police during the raid, were the legal cause of her death, not the warrant. The federal charges against former Detectives Joshua Jaynes and Sgt. Kyle Meany, announced by U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland in 2022, were reduced from civil rights violation charges carrying life sentences to misdemeanors.
The judge did not dismiss a conspiracy charge against Jaynes and a false statement charge against Meany. The events unfolded in March 2020 when police executing a drug warrant at Taylor’s apartment were met with gunfire from her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, who said he believed there was an intruder. Officers returned fire, killing Taylor in the hallway. Simpson concluded that it was Walker’s actions that became the legal cause of Taylor’s death, not the actions of Jaynes and Meany.
Walker was initially charged with attempted murder of a police officer but was later released when it was determined he did not know he was firing at police. Taylor’s family expressed devastation at the judge’s ruling, disagreeing with the decision and expressing their commitment to continuing to fight for justice for Breonna Taylor. The Justice Department is reviewing the judge’s decision and assessing next steps. A third former officer in the case pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge and is expected to testify against Jaynes and Meany at their trials.
Former officer Kelly Goodlett allegedly knew that Jaynes had falsified information about a suspected drug dealer receiving packages at Taylor’s apartment before the raid. Goodlett reportedly told Jaynes that the warrant did not have enough information connecting Taylor to criminal activity, but Jaynes moved forward with obtaining the warrant. Jaynes and Goodlett allegedly met in Jaynes’ garage after Taylor’s shooting gained national attention to align their stories before talking to investigators about the warrant. Another former officer, Brett Hankison, was also charged with endangering the lives of Taylor, Walker, and neighbors when he fired into Taylor’s windows.
Hankison’s trial last year ended in a hung jury, but he is scheduled to be retried in October on those charges. The Taylor case gained widespread attention as another instance of police violence against Black individuals, sparking protests and calls for justice. The family of Breonna Taylor remains committed to seeking full justice for her, despite the setbacks in court rulings. Prosecutors have stated their intent to appeal the judge’s ruling. The Justice Department continues to review the case and determine its next steps in seeking accountability and justice in the tragic death of Breonna Taylor.
