Breonna Taylor Case, Brett Hankison’s Third Trial, Timeline of Events
A former police officer in Kentucky is set to go on trial for a third time over the death of Breonna Taylor, a Black woman shot dead in her own home in 2020 during a botched raid. Brett Hankison, 47, was part of a group of officers in Louisville who broke into Taylor’s apartment on 13 March 2020. Officers fired 32 shots at Taylor and her boyfriend, who survived the incident.
Breonna Taylor’s death sparked protests across the United States, highlighting racial injustice and police brutality. Brett Hankison previously avoided conviction for allegedly violating Taylor’s civil rights. Jury selection for his new trial begins on Tuesday.
What Happened to Breonna Taylor?
Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old nursing student, was sleeping at her apartment with her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, in the early morning hours of 13 March 2020. Officers wearing plain clothes executed a “no-knock” search warrant. Authorities believed that Taylor’s ex-boyfriend was using her home to hide narcotics.
Walker fired a single shot when officers broke down the door, believing they were intruders since they did not announce themselves as police. Another officer fired the shot that killed Taylor. Prosecutors deemed his use of deadly force justified because Walker had opened fire first, injuring one of Hankison’s colleagues.
During the altercation, Brett Hankison fired 10 rounds through Taylor’s window and sliding glass door. His bullets did not hit anyone but entered a neighboring property, endangering others. A subsequent police report contained errors, such as listing Taylor’s injuries as “none” and falsely stating that no force had been used to enter the apartment.
Taylor’s name became widely known during the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests against police brutality.
Brett Hankison’s Previous Trials
The Louisville Metro Police Department fired Brett Hankison in June 2020. He has not been convicted of any crimes. His previous federal case ended in a mistrial when the jury could not reach a unanimous verdict.
The nine-day case centered on whether Hankison’s use of force violated the rights of Breonna Taylor, Kenneth Walker, and Taylor’s neighbors. Hankison admitted that he could not see a target but believed a shootout was happening and acted to protect his life and those of his fellow officers.
Hankison was also tried by a Kentucky state jury in March 2022. He was acquitted on three counts of felony wanton endangerment. Other officers involved in the raid faced charges as well.
Breonna Taylor’s family and Kenneth Walker received payouts from the city due to the incident. In response to Taylor’s death, Louisville introduced a series of police reforms.
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