Breonna Taylor’s boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, who attempted to protect her when Louisville police stormed their home and killed her, has finally reached a settlement with the city.
Louisville has agreed to pay Walker $2 million to settle lawsuits in federal and state court. Walker and Taylor were in bed when Louisville police officers carried out a no-knock warrant on March 13th, 2020. The officers were executing a drug warrant at the wrong apartment when they broke down the door. Walker, fearing they were being burglarized, fired a shot that hit Sgt. John Mattingly in his leg. Mattingly and two other officers began shooting, striking Taylor multiple times. After being shot, Taylor was not rendered any aid. Instead, she was left to bleed on the floor.
Earlier this year, U.S. Justice Department prosecutors charged three Louisville officers with fabricating the Taylor warrant in an elaborate plot that falsely linked Taylor to a wanted drug dealer. There is no evidence that the 26-year-old had any relationship with the man.
Walker was charged with attempted murder of a police officer soon after, but charges were later dropped as outrage mounted against the city.
As part of the settlement, a portion will go towards establishing a scholarship fund for law school students practicing civil rights law. The Georgetown Law School’s Center for Innovations in Community Safety, which promotes police reform, will also receive part of the funds.
Despite compensation, Walker’s lawyer Steve Romines said the brutal death of Taylor would “haunt” the man for the rest of his life.
This is the second time that the city of Louisville has had to fork over a massive lump sum for their despicable actions that led to Taylor’s murder. In September 2020, they settled a lawsuit with Taylor’s mother, Tamika Palmer, for $12 million.
