A federal judge has cleared two former Louisville police officers of felony charges related to Breonna Taylor’s shooting and instead blamed Taylor’s boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, for her death. U.S. District Judge Charles Simpson dropped felony charges against former Detective Joshua Jaynes and former Sgt. Kyle Meany. The judge declared that Walker’s decision to fire a shot at police during the raid was the legal cause of Taylor’s death. The city of Louisville had previously agreed to pay Walker $2 million to settle lawsuits following the incident.
When officers carrying out a drug warrant broke down Taylor’s door, Walker believed they were intruders and fired a shot that struck an officer in the leg. In response, officers returned fire, killing Taylor in her hallway. Simpson concluded that Walker’s actions were the proximate cause of Taylor’s death, not the warrant. The judge stated that there was no direct link between the warrantless entry and Taylor’s death. The judge reduced the civil rights violation charges against Jaynes and Meany to misdemeanors.
Jaynes and Meany are now facing conspiracy and false statement charges, respectively. A third former officer, Kelly Goodlett, pleaded guilty in a conspiracy charge and is expected to testify against Jaynes and Meany at their trials. Federal prosecutors alleged that Jaynes had falsified information about a suspected drug dealer receiving packages at Taylor’s apartment. Another former officer, Brett Hankison, was charged with endangering the lives of Taylor, Walker, and neighbors by firing into Taylor’s windows. He was acquitted on wanton endangerment charges in 2022.
The Justice Department is reviewing the judge’s decision and considering next steps. Taylor’s family expressed disappointment with the ruling but remain committed to seeking justice for Breonna Taylor. The planned appeal by the Assistant U.S. Attorneys on the case may extend the legal proceedings. A federal trial last year on alleged civil rights violations resulted in a hung jury. Hankison is scheduled to be retried on those charges in October. FBI ballistics determined that former Detective Myles Cosgrove likely fired the bullet that killed Taylor. Cosgrove and Mattingly were cleared of any criminal wrongdoing following a state grand jury investigation and a two-year FBI investigation.
