A former Louisville police officer has been sentenced to 33 months in prison for violating Breonna Taylor’s civil rights during a 2020 police raid that resulted in her death. The federal judge handed down Brett Hankison’s sentence after the Department of Justice had recommended he be sentenced to only one day in prison, Straight Arrow News reported last week.
The 2020 raid
On March 13, 2020, Louisville police executed a “no-knock” warrant at Taylor’s apartment as part of a drug investigation linked to Kenneth Walker, her boyfriend. Walker, thinking it was a break-in, fired one shot, hitting an officer in the leg. In response, three officers fired 32 bullets into the apartment. Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old Black woman and medical worker, was hit six times and killed. No drugs were found in the apartment.
According to court documents, Hankison fired blindly, shooting at least 10 rounds into Taylor’s apartment and her neighboring apartment. None of his shots hit anyone, but prosecutors argued his reckless actions endangered lives.
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In response to Breonna Taylor’s death, Louisville’s metro council passed an ordinance called “Breonna Law.” It prohibits no-knock warrants in the city and mandates body camera use for police officers during the execution of search warrants.
DOJ sentencing recommendation
Last week, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a memorandum recommending that Hankison be sentenced to one day in prison. Signed by Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, the memo cited several mitigating factors, including Hankison’s lack of prior convictions, consistent employment throughout his adult life and good behavior since his release from custody over four years ago.
Those factors, the memo said, “demonstrate that there is no need for a prison sentence to protect the public from [the] defendant.”
Protests and arrests outside courthouse
Before Hankison’s sentencing hearing got underway Monday, several protesters could be seen in the streets, some even blocking traffic and jumping on vehicles attempting to pass. According to WAVE News, four protesters were arrested, including Breonna Taylor’s aunt, Bianca Austin.
Austin is charged with disorderly conduct and obstructing traffic, according to WAVE News.
“What we saw today in front of the courthouse in the street was not safe, acceptable or legal. Creating confrontation, kicking vehicles, or otherwise creating an unsafe environment will not be tolerated,” Matt Sanders, Louisville Metro Police, said in a statement.
