On March 13, 2020, officers shot Breonna Taylor in her apartment while she slept next to her boyfriend. Police had entered the apartment in a no-knock raid. Believing police were an intruder, Breonna’s boyfriend fired one shot at police. According to an article on Reuters, “Three police officers responded with 32 shots, six of which struck Taylor.” The killing of Taylor sparked nationwide protests about the injustices served on Black individuals in America.
In a federal hearing, one of the responding officers, Kelly Goodlett pled guilty to conspiring with other officers and falsifying the warrant they used to enter Taylor’s apartment. According to the Courier Journal in Louisville, the 35-year old could face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine during sentencing. However, we will have to wait months to hear the final results since the tentative sentencing date isn’t until November 22.
Because this was a federal proceeding, there were strict rules in place about courtroom behavior.
However, this didn’t stop Taylor’s mom, Tamika Palmer, from donning a shirt with “Say Her Name” in bold letters.
Taylors’s mom did not make a public statement at the conclusion of the court session. Instead, she made an Instagram post shortly after about Goodlett pleading guilty.
Although this news is definitely a step in the right direction, sentencing for the other officers involved in the raid are at a standstill until their trials happen.
The reason for the hold up? Goodlett was the only officer willing to enter a plea deal, while the other three officers opted for indictment.
According to an article published by NPR, the court indicted former officers Joshua Jaynes and Kyle Meany on charges related to the warrant used to perform the no-knock search of Taylor’s home. A third officer, Brett Hankinson, received an acquittal on the state charges related to Taylor’s death, but still faces federal charges.
If convicted, each of the three now-fired officers could receive life in prison due to breaking civil rights laws.
Unfortunately, this case is a small sliver of justice in a world that still treats Black Americans poorly. We still have a lot of work to do if we truly want Black Americans to receive the fair treatment they deserve from law enforcement agencies. In fact, many officers who violate the civil rights of Black Americans evade prosecution entirely.
Expect more developments in this case and others to come as this is just the beginning of these trials. How do you feel about Goodlett’s plea? Let us know in the comments below.
Feature Image via Flikr
