A former Kentucky police detective has been convicted by a federal jury for using excessive force during a botched drug raid in 2020 that resulted in the death of Breonna Taylor. The jury found the detective guilty of firing 10 shots into Taylor's glass door and windows, although no one was hit. The verdict marks the first conviction of a Louisville police officer involved in the fatal raid.
The jury, consisting of six men and six women, deliberated for over 20 hours across three days before reaching a decision. The conviction carries a maximum sentence of life in prison for the 48-year-old detective.
The incident, along with the killing of George Floyd in 2020, sparked nationwide protests against racial injustice. The detective had argued that he was acting in self-defense after Taylor's boyfriend fired at the officers during the raid.
Prosecutors contended that the detective acted recklessly by firing shots into doors and windows without a clear target in sight. They emphasized that the use of deadly force requires a visual confirmation of the target.
Two other officers involved in the raid were not charged in Taylor's death, as authorities deemed their actions as justified self-defense. The conviction of the former detective is a significant development in the pursuit of justice for Breonna Taylor.
