Breonna Taylor – Former Louisville Officers Involved In Fatal Raid Cleared Of Some Charges, Judge Rules Her Boyfriend Firing Back At Police Was ‘Legal Cause Of Her Death’

Breonna Taylor, Kenneth Walker, Former Detective Joshua Jaynes

Breonna Taylor – Former Louisville Officers Involved In Fatal Raid Cleared Of Some Charges, Judge Rules Her Boyfriend Firing Back At Police Was ‘Legal Cause Of Her Death’

Criminal charges against two officers connected to Breonna Taylor‘s death have been dismissed in a federal court.

Breonna Taylor was shot and killed in her apartment by Louisville police officers on March 13, 2020. The officers involved were executing a “no-knock warrant” amid a narcotics investigation in the area.

According to reports, when officers burst into the apartment, Breonna Taylor’s boyfriend Kenneth Walker shot at police, thinking that they were being robbed. He has maintained that he never heard officers announce themselves before entering. Breonna Taylor was killed when police returned fire with 32 shots. No drugs or money were found in her home.

Former Louisville Metro Police Det. Joshua Jaynes and Sgt. Kyle Meany were later charged amid claims that they falsified information in an affidavit that helped police get the warrant to begin with. They’re also accused of creating a cover-up story after Taylor’s death. Joshua Jaynes and Kyle Meany were not present when the raid happened.

They were charged with felonies for using a dangerous weapon to deprive Breonna of her Fourth Amendment right to defend herself against unreasonable search.

However, U.S. District Court Judge Charles Simpson determined that Kenneth Walker’s first gunshot was the “legal cause of her death,” instead of the warrant that was issued. The ruling states,

“The Government has charged a Fourth Amendment violation based only on the alleged warrantless entry. Yet, the fact allegations make clear that the Execution Team’s post-midnight, startling entry caused K.W. to open fire which, in turn, prompted the return fire which hit and killed Taylor. … The Government has not explained how the lack of probable cause to enter created a foreseeable risk of a gunfire exchange.”

It continues,

“Taylor’s death was proximately caused by the manner in which the warrant was executed. [Walker’s] decision to open fire, as alleged and argued, was the natural and probable consequence of executing the warrant at 12:45 a.m. on an unsuspecting household.”

Still, Joshua Jaynes and Kyle Meany are facing other charges.

Meany is charged with one count of false statements to federal investigators and could get up to five years in prison. Jaynes is charged with two counts of falsification of records, conspiracy to falsify records and witness tampering. He is facing up to 40 years in prison.

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