Kentucky prosecutors are seeking to permanently dismiss charges against Breonna Taylor’s boyfriend, Kenneth Walker.
As CBS reported, the Commonwealth Attorney for Jefferson County in Kentucky will present a motion to the judge on Monday (March 8) requesting that Walker’s charges are dropped with prejudice, meaning he could no longer be faced with the same charges in the future.
Taylor was killed by officers who used a no-knock warrant to search her home for illegal drugs connected with a suspected drug-dealing operation believed to be conducted by her ex-boyfriend. Upon the cops’ entry, Walker — who thought they were intruders — fired a warning shot, prompting the ensuing gunfire that resulted in Taylor’s death.
Walker was arrested and charged with the assault and attempted murder of a police officer, but in May, the charges were dropped without prejudice, leaving the possibility open for the same charges to be filed against him.
At the time, Jefferson Commonwealth’s Attorney Tom Wine said more investigations were needed, but the prosecutors’ motion says probes into the situation have ended and “no new information relevant to the charges against (Walker)” have been brought to Wine’s attention.
“After the worst year of [Walker’s] life, prosecutors have finally acknowledged that he did nothing wrong and acted in self-defense,” said Walker’s lawyer, Steve Romines. “He looks forward to continuing the fight to hold the real wrongdoers accountable for the harm that they’ve caused. Both he, individually, and our community, as a whole, cannot begin the process of healing until that happens.”
Walker is also still embroiled in a legal battle against Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly, who sued him for emotional distress, assault and battery, claiming his warning shot may have hit him in the leg. In December, Tyler Perry donated $100,000 to Walker’s GoFundMe, which will be used to cover his legal expenses.