Opinion | Kenneth Walker: Lastly, justice for Breonna Taylor. It’s not sufficient.

Moments after I held Bre as she died, the police arrested and charged me with tried homicide. Understanding all the issues that this failed raid would create, the Louisville police tried to make use of me as a scapegoat to deflect blame. It nearly labored.

Justice has been a very long time coming. For 2 months in 2020, I sat in custody pondering and believing I would die in jail — and for what? However, throughout that point, the police in Minneapolis choked the life out of George Floyd as he repeatedly informed them, “I can’t breathe.” Floyd’s homicide led the world to look into the loss of life of Breonna, the girl I liked. After Bre’s case began to obtain consideration, the case towards me began to obtain consideration. Quickly after, a choose dismissed it.

Following my launch from jail, I sat by shell-shocked and waited for the Commonwealth of Kentucky to research the officers who brought on the loss of life of Bre and who wrongfully arrested, charged and blamed me for his or her errors. However as a substitute of holding the officers accountable, Kentucky Lawyer Normal Daniel Cameron informed the world in September 2020 that it was my fault Bre died.

It was not my fault that the police refused to reply to Bre’s calls of “Who’s it?” and returned greater than 20 photographs after I fired one shot to guard us in her residence — a shot fired after the cops, holding a fraudulently obtained warrant, refused to establish themselves and knocked down our door in the midst of the night time. Louisville police and native authorities officers made this about my (lawful) use of a firearm as a substitute of their unlawful conduct that led them to our doorstep.

This week, we acquired some accountability. Former police detective Kelly Goodlett pleaded responsible to felony conspiracy and admitted that the one info within the affidavit which may have justified a warrant was false. She admitted to understanding the warrant could be executed in the midst of the night time and that it would danger damage or loss of life to folks within the residence. She admitted that the warrant didn’t replicate up-to-date info. She additionally admitted that she and different members of the police division tried to cowl up their lies.

The Justice Division’s investigation has begun to disclose the actual story about what occurred that night time. There was no good motive for the cops to execute a search warrant at Bre’s residence at any time, a lot much less in the midst of the night time. Federal prices are nonetheless pending towards former officers Joshua Jaynes, Kyle Meany and Brett Hankison. All of those officers have been fired, though Meany didn’t lose his job till final week. The wheels of justice have turned very slowly, however I’m grateful that the Justice Division has been trustworthy in its pursuit of the reality.

For me, Goodlett’s responsible plea is bittersweet. This case will comply with me the remainder of my life. I’ve to dwell as a witness to Bre’s horrific and tragic loss of life. The reminiscence of that door being pressured open is with me continuously and makes it very onerous to sleep. My mug shot has been proven everywhere in the nation. Even now, I’m wrongly known as a “thug” and a “drug seller” by folks I’ve by no means met. The Louisville police tried to have my civil fits towards metropolis and county officers dismissed, however they’re continuing.

I’ve to dwell with fixed reminders of police falsely charging and mistreating me. Whereas driving from Atlanta again to Kentucky final 12 months, a Tennessee officer pulled me over for a visitors violation. When the officer ran my info, his system confirmed that prices of tried homicide of a police officer had been filed towards me. Earlier than I knew it, extra police automobiles drove up. Fortunately, the officers allowed me to elucidate that these prices had been dismissed. However, for a second, I felt as helpless and afraid as I did on March 13, 2020.

That is my life. Whereas I’m grateful to have it, the nightmare continues.