Former Kentucky Police Detective Convicted in Breonna Taylor Case

 

A federal jury has convicted Brett Hankison, a former police detective, for using excessive force during a botched drug raid in 2020 that resulted in the death of Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old Black woman. The verdict was reached late Friday night after over 20 hours of deliberation by the 12-member jury, which included six men and six women.

Hankison was previously acquitted of state charges and faced a deadlocked jury on federal charges last year. However, this conviction marks the first time a Louisville police officer involved in the incident has been found guilty. Earlier in the evening, the jury had cleared Hankison on a separate charge related to his actions toward Taylor’s neighbors.

The jury members expressed deep emotion as the verdict was read around 9:30 PM. Prior to reaching a decision, they had communicated to the judge twice about being deadlocked concerning the excessive force used on Taylor but opted to continue their deliberations.

During the raid, Hankison fired 10 shots into Taylor's apartment through the glass door and windows, yet none of the bullets struck their intended targets. Some rounds entered a neighboring apartment, raising serious concerns about the use of force.

Hankison's defense contended that his actions were justified, arguing that he was trying to protect his fellow officers after Taylor’s boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, fired at them when they broke down the door using a battering ram. During closing arguments, Hankison’s attorney stressed that prosecutors needed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Taylor was alive when Hankison discharged his weapon.

In a critical incident during the raid, Walker's gunfire wounded one officer, prompting Hankison and others to return fire. Tragically, Taylor was hit and subsequently killed while she stood in a hallway of her home.

Hankison, now 48, faces a maximum sentence of life in prison due to this conviction. The case, alongside the killing of George Floyd in May 2020, ignited widespread protests against racial injustice and police violence throughout the United States.

Despite Hankison’s conviction, neither of the other officers involved in the shooting—former Sgt. John Mattingly and former Det. Myles Cosgrove—were charged in connection with Taylor’s death. Federal and state prosecutors determined that their actions were justified since they were responding to Walker’s initial gunfire.

Hankison was one of four officers charged by the U.S. Department of Justice in 2022 for violating Taylor’s civil rights, with this conviction being the only significant outcome from those charges so far. The case remains a poignant reminder of the ongoing discussions surrounding police conduct and accountability in America.