Louisville, Kentucky–26-year-old EMT worker Breonna Taylor was shot and killed in her home over two months ago by Louisville Police in what her family are calling a “botched police raid.”
Lousiville Police attempted a raid on Taylor’s residence just before 1:00 a.m Mar 13 that resulted in Taylor being shot over eight times as well as an officer being shot.
Taylor’s boyfriend Kenneth Walker was taken into custody and is being charged with attempted murder on a police officer. Police say he shot first when they entered the residence.
A judge signed off on a “no-knock” provision that allowed police to enter Taylor’s home without identifying themselves as members of law enforcement, records show.
Police say they were looking for individuals that they say sold drugs in the area.
“Louisville police say that despite the “no-knock” warrant, they identified themselves before using a battering ram to enter Taylor’s residence, where Taylor and her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, were in bed,” (Courier Journal).
Details in a wrongful death suit filed against Louisville Police by Taylor’s family, reveals that at least one of the two individuals listed in the warrant had been taken into custody earlier in the day.
Read More: Calls grow for outside investigation into fatal Louisville police shooting of Breonna Taylor
The three officers, Jon Mattingly, Brent Hankinson and Myles Cosgrove — are currently all on administrative assignment, which is department protocol.
Jefferson County commonwealth’s attorney recused himself into looking into the conduct of the officers involved in Taylor’s death. He is continuing to pursue attempted murder charges against her boyfriend, however.
Civil Rights Attorney Benjamin Crump discussed Breonna Taylor’s death in her home on Ricky Smiley’s morning show. Taylor’s story first fell below the national radar but has now gained spotlight across the social media.
“Some high-profile figures, including California Sen. Kamala Harris, called for a federal investigation. An online petition with more than 90,000 signatures says police performed an “illegal drug raid” before killing Taylor,” (Baltimore Sun).
