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Saturday 23 May 2020

Kentucky prosecutors drop attempted murder charge against boyfriend of 26-year-old black EMT who was shot eight times in her bed by Louisville cops during botched drug raid

A Kentucky prosecutor is moving to dismiss an attempted murder charge against Kenneth Walker, the boyfriend of Breonna Taylor who shot a police officer as they entered Taylor's home during a botched raid in the early morning hours of March 13.
Tom Wine, Louisville's top prosecutor, announced on Friday that the case needs more investigation and he wants to let state and federal prosecutors finish their inquiries.
'If, after those reviews, we believe that there is sufficient evidence to present this matter to the grand jury, we will do so,' Wine said in an online news conference.
Taylor's boyfriend, Walker, had been charged with attempted murder of a police officer, Louisville Metro Police Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly, for shooting at officers as they served a search warrant. 
Kenneth Walker
Breonna Taylor
Kentucky prosecutors on Friday announced that they have dropped attempted murder charges against Kenneth Walker (left). Walker is the boyfriend of 26-year-old Breonna Taylor (right). Taylor was in bed in her home on the night of March 13 with Walker.
Taylor, 26, died in the early hours of March 13 after law enforcement raided the home she shared with her boyfriend in Louisville, Kentucky
Taylor, 26, died in the early hours of March 13 after law enforcement raided the home she shared with her boyfriend in Louisville, Kentucky
Breonna Taylor
The search warrant used to justify the police raid which left Breonna Taylor, pictured, 26, dead on March 13 claimed that Taylor's home was used by a suspected drug dealer, Jamarcus Glover to receive suspicious packages. The family says this claim is false and is suing police
Mattingly was wounded in the leg during the March 13 raid that was launched alongside two other LMPD officers - Brett Hankison and Myles Cosgrove. 
Walker was not injured but Taylor, a black emergency medical tech, was shot eight times during the March 13 warrant search.
Attention on Taylor's death has intensified this week as Louisville's police chief announced his retirement and the mayor changed some police warrant search policies.
Sgt Jonathan Mattingly of the Louisville Metro Police Department was shot in the leg by Walker after he and two other officers launched a 'no-knock' raid on the home
Sgt Jonathan Mattingly of the Louisville Metro Police Department was shot in the leg by Walker after he and two other officers launched a 'no-knock' raid on the home 
Wine played some of Walker's interview with police during the news conference Friday. 
Walker told police on the audio recording that he could hear knocking on the night of the shooting but did not hear police announce themselves.
Walker said he was 'scared to death' so he grabbed his gun and when the door was knocked down, he fired a shot. 
He said his intention was to fire a warning shot downward toward the ground. 
The bullet hit a police detective.
Wine said he also was seeking to dispel some 'false information' that has been reported about the case. 
Wine said he believes that the police knocked and identified themselves despite receiving approval for a 'no-knock' warrant. 
Those warrants allow officers to enter a home without first announcing their presence.
Walker said he heard loud knocking on the door before police entered but said he didn't know who it was.
The suit claims that LMPD Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly, pictured, and officers Brett Hankison and Myles Cosgrove entered their apartment without announcing themselves
The suit claims that LMPD Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly and officers Brett Hankison and Myles Cosgrove, pictured, entered their apartment without announcing themselves
 The Taylor family filed a lawsuit claiming that Mattingly and officers Brett Hankison (left) and Myles Cosgrove (right) entered their apartment without announcing themselves
A lawsuit filed last week by Taylor´s family said the officers 'spray(ed) gunfire into the residence with a total disregard for the value of human life.'
Police said they were returning fire after being shot at. 
The lawsuit said police had already located the drug suspect they were seeking at a different location before executing the warrant at Taylor´s residence.

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