The US Department of Justice announced civil charges Thursday against four Louisville police officers in the drug raid that led to the death of Breonna Taylor, a black woman whose fatal shooting contributed to the protests for racial justice that rocked the country in 2020.
The charges seek to hold law enforcement accountable for the 26-year-old medical worker’s murder after one of the officers was cleared of state charges earlier this year.
Federal officials “share, but cannot fully imagine, the pain” Taylor’s family is feeling, Attorney General Merrick Garland said in announcing the charges.
“Breonna Taylor should be alive today,” he added. The charges range from illegal conspiracies, use of force and obstruction of justice, Garland said.
The defendants are former officers Joshua Jaynes and Brett Hankison; and Acting Officers Kelly Goodlett and Sergeant Kyle Meany. Louisville police said Thursday that they are starting firing procedures for Goodlett and Meany.
Local activists and members of the Taylor family celebrated the charges and thanked federal authorities.
“This is a day that black women saw equal justice in America,” said attorney Benjamin Crump.
Some members of the Taylor family and other supporters gathered at a downtown park Thursday and chanted “Say her name, Breonna Taylor!”
Taylor’s mother, Tamika Palmer, said she has waited 874 days for police to be held accountable.
Taylor was shot and killed by Louisville police officers who broke down her door while executing the search warrant. Taylor’s boyfriend fired a shot that hit one of the officers as they came through the door and they returned fire, shooting Taylor multiple times.
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