sgotwalks - Haven't followed, but isn't she an innocent lady that was killed in her own home? Shot through the window or something, wasn't she? I must be missing something if so many people in this thread are saying the cops did nothing wrong.
I still don't like the overall execution of the warrant, and I'm really ok with the civil settlement her family received. Charges I'm not really sure of unless ballistics proves the fired cop shot her, but I doubt he dis but...
I was originally taken in by the media's portrayal also. Totally innocent girl Scout EMT that had her apartment raided on a bad warrant due to an ex boyfriend being a drug dealer. Usually there is at least one detail that sticks out that makes you go "Hmmmm", but this one seemed pretty clear cut.
When details of the full investigation came out it was totally different. Her house has a search warrant executed on it because there was a shit load of direct photo, video and wiretap evidence of her working directly with her ex's drug ring... Everything from bailing out his drug dealers to delivering drugs and money. She was included in the investigation when the body of a drug dealer was found in the trunk of a car that she had rented.
The only cop fired did indeed shoot from the parking lot. He even struck another apartment. The right wing media seems to be getting the knocking fact wrong because the cops claimed to have knocked and announced. The neighbors couldn't confirm it and the only time "knocking" is mentioned specifically is when they knocked the door off the hinges.
In the end, rather they changed their mind on knock and announce or not, it was issued as a no knock warrant, there wasn't anything in the house (supposedly after the shooting the house wasn't even searched, but not sure.). They busted a front door down, and was fired upon by a legal gun fired by an innocent person, but everything said about Taylor was a lie. She hadn't even been an EMT in many years. It's a case that's hard to call. I'll never get on board with someone deserving to be killed by cops for crimes they've committed. I won't make a criminal a candidate to be canonized, either.