Four Former and Current Louisville Officers Federally Charged in Breonna Taylor Raid

Four current and former Louisville police officers involved in the 2020 deadly raid at Breonna Taylor’s home were arrested on Thursday and charged with civil rights offenses, unlawful conspiracies, unconstitutional use of force and obstruction offenses, according to Attorney General Merrick Garland.

Joshua Jaynes, Sgt. Kyle Meany and Kelly Goodlett were charged with knowingly submitting a false affidavit to search Taylor’s home, leading to the botched raid that killed her.

Former officer Brett Hankison, who was acquitted on state-level charges back in March, was charged with two counts of deprivation of rights under color of law, Garland said during Thursday’s press conference.

“Today was a huge step toward justice,” lawyers for Taylor’s family said Thursday following the announcement.

Taylor, a 26-year-old Black medical worker, was shot and killed by Louisville officers who broke down the door of her home while she was asleep with her boyfriend, who believed the officers were intruders and fired his legally owned firearm as they entered. The one shot he fired hit an officer, and cops responded with 22 rounds of gunfire into the apartment, killing Taylor.