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.
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In response to Breonna Taylor’s death, Louisville’s metro council passed an ordinance called “Breonna’s Law.” It prohibits no-knock warrants in the city and mandates body camera use for police officers during the execution of search warrants.
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.
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.”
Family’s legal team reacts to sentencing decision
National civil rights attorneys Ben Crump, Lonita Baker, and Sam Aguiar, who represent Breonna Taylor’s family, released the following statement:
“While today’s sentence is not what we had hoped for –– nor does it fully reflect the severity of the harm caused –– it is more than what the Department of Justice sought. That, in itself, is a statement. The jury found Brett Hankison guilty, and that verdict deserved to be met with real accountability.
“Tamika Palmer asked for a sentence consistent with federal guidelines and the law. We respect the court’s decision, but we will continue to call out the DOJ’s failure to stand firmly behind Breonna’s rights and the rights of every Black woman whose life is treated as expendable.”
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.
