Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old emergency medical technician, was fatally shot by Louisville Metro Police Department inside her apartment on March 13, 2020. Officers were at her apartment to execute a “no-knock” search warrant in connection with an investigation on her ex-boyfriend. Taylor was not involved in the investigation. Taylor had no criminal record. Read more details about the case here.

 A Monumental Step Towards Justice

On September 15 of 2020, the Mayor of Louisville announced that Breonna Taylor’s family settled their civil lawsuit with the Louisville Metro Government. The settlement includes policy reforms and a $12 million payment to her estate. 

Many people view this settlement as monumental and historic because Taylor’s settlement is the largest payout in Louisville history. It is also one of the largest settlements made nationwide representing the life of a black woman.

The policy reforms agreed upon within the settlement were divided into the following categories: community related police programs, search warrant reforms, and police accountability reforms. The settlement includes an incentive for officers to live in specific communities; regular drug test on officers; and changes to the approval and execution process of search warrants.

What’s Next in the Breonna Taylor Case?

Days before the announcement of the settlement, there were reports of Taylor’s case being set to go before a grand jury.