One of Two Louisville Officers dropped from suit in Death of James E. Taylor

  
Handcuffed Black Man shot 11 Times by Cops

 A Jefferson circuit judge has removed Officer Bryan Luckett from a civil lawsuit filed by the estate of handcuffed Black man, James Edwards Taylor, 50, who was fatally shot 11 times by a police detective in 2002. Luckett was the partner of Detective Michael O'Neil the night that O'Neil shot James Edward Taylor in Taylor's apartment. At the time of the shooting, police said the two detectives entered the apartment building where Taylor lived, then heard a woman screaming for help and saying that a man had a knife. Without first frisking Taylor the officers handcuffed Taylor with his arms behind his back. Officers told investigators that despite being handcuffed behind his back Taylor had somehow taken a knife into his hands, worked his hands around to his hip, and was able to make ''slicing motions'' as he lunged at and threatened the officers. Officer O'Neil said that he feared for his life because Taylor was lunging at him with a box-cutter knife.  The officers then explained that they were "backed into a corner" by Taylor as he lunged at them and they had no choice but to shoot him. An expert said the shooting may have been avoided if the detectives had carried some form of intermediate force, such as a collapsible baton or pepper spray. Plain-clothes officers were not required to carry them at the time. On Dec. 5, 2003 a Jefferson County grand jury declined to indict the officers in the killing of Taylor and the officers were absolved of criminal wrongdoing. Taylor's suit against Officer O'Neil is pending. [more ] and [more ]