LOUISVILLE, Ky. (LEX 18) — Breonna Taylor’s boyfriend Kenneth Walker filed a civil lawsuit in Louisville Tuesday, seeking damages for the toll that Taylor’s death, and events that have transpired in subsequent months, have taken on him.
Taylor died on March 13 while three Louisville Metro Police officers wearing plain clothes carried out a no-knock warrant for a drug case at her apartment in the middle of the night.
During a statement on Tuesday, Walker explained the events of March 13 from his perspective:
"My life changed forever in the early morning of March 13. I was laying in bed with Breonna around midnight watching a movie. All of a sudden someone started beating on the door. They refused to answer when we yelled, 'Who is it?' Fifteen minutes later, Breonna was dead from a hail of police gunfire and I was in police custody. The police arrested, jailed and charged me with the murder of a police officer."
The charges were dropped by the Louisville Metro Police Department but Walker's lawyers said they are concerned he could still be a target. One of Walker's lawyers, Steve Romines, said some of the facts are still unclear.
"The police have alleged all along that Kenneth's one shot somehow hit Officer Mattingly. We absolutely do not concede that fact. It was obviously possible but until we see the ballistics report, and it reflects that, we think it is much more likely that one of the 35-45 shots fired by LMPD is what struck Officer Mattingly," said Romines.
Walker continued his statement stating, "The charges brought against me were meant to silence me and cover up Breonna's murder. For her and those I love, I can no longer remain silent."
Frederick Moore, another lawyer for Walker explained the toll the past several months have allegedly taken on Walker.
Moore said, "his entire life has been changed. Not only is the love of his life gone, and he has to deal with that, but let's also talk about the potential psychological effects of being shot at that many times in the dark. And the trust, or lack thereof, now, for the criminal justice system and how they treated him. His name is all over the world that they've charged him with this. So that's just the beginning."
The Louisville Metro Police Department said they would not comment on pending litigation.
Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer also would not comment on Walker's lawsuit but a spokesperson for him said, "as the Mayor has said, Breonna Taylor's death was a tragedy, and justice, peace and healing are what is needed for her, for her loved ones and for our community."
