Federal Judge Dismisses Dangerous Weapon Charges Against Officers in Breonna Taylor’s Death, Shifting Blame to Boyfriend Kenneth Walker
A federal judge has dismissed felony charges against two officers involved in obtaining the warrant that led to the fatal raid on Breonna Taylor‘s home. The decision has reignited controversy and deepened the anguish for Taylor’s family, as the blame for her death is now being shifted from the warrant to her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker.
In 2022, Detective Joshua Jaynes and Sgt. Kyle Meany were charged with submitting a false affidavit to secure the search warrant for Taylor’s home. They were also accused of fabricating a cover story to avoid accountability after Taylor was killed during the raid. Additionally, they faced felony charges for using a dangerous weapon to deprive Taylor of her Fourth Amendment rights.
However, U.S. District Judge Charles Simpson ruled that there was no direct connection between the warrant and Taylor’s death. He asserted that the immediate cause was Walker’s decision to fire at the officers, which led them to respond with lethal force. The judge’s decision to drop the weapons charges marks a significant legal victory for the officers, who were facing potential life sentences if convicted.
It is important to note that neither Jaynes nor Meany were present during the raid itself. Despite the dismissal of these charges, both officers still face other legal challenges. Meany is charged with making a false statement to federal investigators, while Jaynes is charged with two counts of falsification of records, conspiracy to falsify records, and witness tampering. If convicted, Jaynes could face up to 40 years in prison, and Meany could be sentenced to up to 5 years. Both officers have been dismissed from the Louisville Police Department.
Breonna Taylor’s death in 2020 became a catalyst for nationwide protests and a central issue for the Black Lives Matter movement. The recent decision to dismiss these charges has deeply saddened Taylor’s family, who expressed their disappointment in a statement. They also noted that prosecutors plan to appeal the judge’s ruling.
Two other former detectives, Brett Hankison and Kelly Goodlett, were also charged in connection with the case. Goodlett has reportedly pled guilty and is awaiting sentencing.