Ms. Taylor, 26, was killed on March 13, 2020, when police officers in Louisville, Kentucky, executed a “no-knock” warrant and broke down her door. Her boyfriend thought someone was breaking in and fired in self-defense, hitting an officer in the leg. Three officers responded with 32 shots, six of which struck and killed Ms. Taylor. It later emerged that police were actually looking for an ex-partner of Mrs Taylor who did not live at the address. On Tuesday, former officer Kelly Goodlett pleaded guilty in federal court in Louisville, the New York Times reported. Ms. Taylor’s death, along with other murders of black people in 2020, including George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery, sparked outrage and led to protests across the US and the world. Goodlett was one of four officers indicted by the US Department of Justice on August 4 for their part in the raid. Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player 0:46 People gather in Louisville on the anniversary of Breonna Taylor’s death in March 2021 According to prosecutors, Goodlett and another officer, Joshua Jaynes, met in a garage after the shooting, where they agreed to a story to cover up the false evidence they submitted to justify the raid. Goodlett was charged with conspiring with another detective to falsify the warrant and cover up the falsification. Jaynes and Sergeant Kyle Meany were also charged with civil rights violations and obstruction of justice for using false information to obtain a warrant. A fourth officer, former detective Brett Hankison, was charged with civil rights violations for allegedly using excessive force. In March, a jury acquitted Hankison of the unlawful threat charge. A grand jury earlier acquitted the other two white officers who shot Taylor, but accused Hankison of endangering neighbors in the next-door apartment.
