In a case that has drawn national attention, former Louisville police officer Brett Hankison has been sentenced to 33 months in federal prison following a civil rights conviction. The sentencing, which occurred on July 21, 2025, is a result of Hankison's actions during a March 2020 raid that tragically led to the death of Breonna Taylor.
The incident unfolded as officers attempted to execute a late-night drug raid at Taylor’s apartment. Official reports indicate that Taylor's boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, fired at the officers as they entered, wounding one in the leg. The officers returned fire, leading to Taylor's death. Hankison, who was part of the raid team, fired multiple shots through a glass door and a window, which did not hit Taylor, Walker, or any neighbors.
In 2022, the U.S. Department of Justice charged Hankison with civil rights violations under 18 U.S.C. § 242, alleging his conduct showed a reckless disregard for human life and constituted excessive force. Despite the fact that Hankison's shots did not result in physical injuries, prosecutors argued that his actions violated the Fourth Amendment rights of the individuals involved.
A first federal trial in 2023 ended in a mistrial after jurors could not reach a unanimous verdict. However, the DOJ retried Hankison in 2024, leading to his conviction on one count of using excessive force under federal civil rights law. The DOJ's court filings highlighted the unique nature of the prosecution, as it is rare for an officer to be charged for returning fire without causing injury.
The sentencing memorandum from the DOJ recommended that Hankison receive credit for one day already served, acknowledging the difficulty in securing a conviction, which required two federal trials. Hankison is the only officer from the Taylor raid to face criminal charges related to the shooting. Other officers involved were not charged, as they were found to have acted lawfully by returning fire after being shot at first.
Breonna Taylor's death sparked significant protests in 2020 and calls for police reform. Although the charges against Hankison were not directly related to Taylor's death, they focused on the risk his actions posed to others. Hankison had also been acquitted of wanton endangerment in state court in 2022 for shots that entered an adjacent apartment.
The case has been a top priority for the Biden administration, as indicated by social media posts from journalists like Andy Ngo, reflecting its significance in the ongoing national conversation about law enforcement practices and civil rights.
