Louisville, Ky. – In a significant legal outcome, a federal jury on Friday condemned Brett Hankison, a former detective with the Louisville Police Department, on charges of using excessive force during a disorganized 2020 drug raid that resulted in the death of Breonna Taylor. This marks the initial conviction of an officer linked to the tragic event, setting a precedent in a case that has drawn widespread attention and sparked demands for justice across the nation.
The verdict was reached after intense deliberations that stretched over three days, totaling more than 20 hours. Despite earlier signals of a deadlock concerning the charges directly linked to Taylor, the jury, composed of six men and six women, opted to push forward, culminating in a decision late Friday night.
Earlier in the evening, the same jury had exonerated Hankison of charges alleging he endangered Taylor’s neighbors by firing recklessly during the raid. Nonetheless, the profound impact of the case was palpable, as some jurors were visibly emotional when the verdict was announced around 9:30 p.m.
Outside the federal courthouse, Taylor’s mother, Tamika Palmer, alongside a gathering of supporters, welcomed the verdict as a hard-fought achievement. “It took a lot of time. It took a lot of patience. It was hard,” Palmer stated, acknowledging the jury’s effort to grasp the magnitude of the injustice faced by her daughter.
During the raid, Hankison discharged 10 shots through Taylor’s glass door and windows. While none of his bullets struck any individuals, several did penetrate into an adjacent apartment. The chaotic scene contributed to the fatality of Taylor, a 26-year-old Black woman, whose death—alongside others like George Floyd’s in Minneapolis—catalyzed a national reckoning over racial injustice and police brutality.
Bernice King, daughter of the late Martin Luther King Jr., reflected on the verdict through social media, labeling it as “a long-awaited moment of accountability.” She expressed that, although the decision could not reverse the loss, it serves as a vital step toward broader justice and reinforces the principle that no one is above the law.
Last year, another federal jury had deadlocked on charges against Hankison, following his 2022 acquittal on state charges related to wanton endangerment. With this federal conviction, Hankison now faces a potential life sentence. His sentencing is scheduled for March 12 and will be overseen by U.S. District Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings.
Throughout the trial, Hankison maintained that his actions were justified, claiming he was responding protectively to gunfire initiated by Taylor’s boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, who allegedly shot at police as they breached Taylor’s door. This defense underscored the tumultuous moments that enveloped the raid, lasting approximately 12 seconds.
The U.S. Department of Justice’s charges against Hankison and three other officers in 2022 marked a significant federal intervention in the case. This verdict follows a previous conviction stemming from those charges involving a guilty plea from a former officer not present during the raid, but who later cooperated in other investigations.
Prosecutors in closing arguments emphasized Hankison’s reckless conduct, asserting that he violated essential protocols of deadly force by firing where he couldn’t see a clear target.
The complex legal journey surrounding Breonna Taylor’s death continues to unfold, as the other officers connected to the incident—Detective Myles Cosgrove and former Sergeant John Mattingly—were deemed justified in their use of force by both federal and state prosecutors, attributed to their return fire after being shot at by Walker.
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