Louisville police have fired one of the cops involved in Breonna Taylor’s death saying he ‘blindly fired 10 rounds’ into the apartment in the botched no-knock raid back in March.
Officer Brett Hankison was fired Tuesday from the department for his part in the killing of black EMT Taylor, 26, Louisville Metro Police announced.
Hankison, who had previously been accused of sexual assault on the job, ‘blindly’ fired 10 rounds into the apartment and showed ‘extreme indifference to the value of human life’, interim chief Robert Schroeder said in a letter confirming his firing.
Taylor was shot eight times and killed when three plain clothes officers performed a no-knock arrest warrant at her apartment in Louisville on March 13.
Officer Brett Hankison was fired Tuesday from the department for his part in the killing of black EMT Taylor, 26, Louisville Metro Police announced
Schroeder confirmed Hankison’s termination Tuesday after a pretermination hearing held earlier that day, as he blasted the officer’s actions as a ‘shock to the conscience’.
‘Based upon my review, these are extreme violations of our policies,’ Schroeder said in the letter announcing his decision.
‘I find your conduct a shock to the conscience. I am alarmed and stunned you used deadly force in this fashion.’
Hankison showed an ‘extreme indifference to the value of human life’, Schroeder continued.
His firing 10 rounds ‘blindly’ into the apartment ‘created a substantial danger of death and serious injury to Breonna Taylor and the three occupants of the apartment next to Ms. Taylor’s’, the letter continued.
The two-page letter also pointed out Hankison faced disciplinary action over an earlier instance of ‘reckless conduct’ over a year before Taylor was gunned down by the cop.
‘You have previously been disciplined for reckless conduct that injured an innocent person in Professional Standards Case #17-062 for which you were disciplined on January 9, 2019,’ the letter read.
Taylor (pictured) was shot eight times and killed when three plain clothes officers performed a no-knock arrest warrant at her apartment in Louisville on March 13
Schroeder confirmed Hankison’s termination Tuesday in a letter (pictured) after a pretermination hearing held earlier that day, as he blasted the officer’s actions as a ‘shock to the conscience’
The two-page letter also pointed out Hankison faced disciplinary action over an earlier instance of ‘reckless conduct’ over a year before Taylor was gunned down by the cop
An attorney for Taylor’s devastated family welcomed the news, but said it was just a ‘small step’ on the way to bringing charges against the cops responsible for her death.
‘It’s another good, small step,’ said Sam Aguiar.
‘We won’t be satisfied until rightful charges are brought against him, until charges are brought against everyone responsible for Breonna’s death.’
The disgraced cop may appeal the decision in writing within 10 days, Schroeder wrote.
If he files an appeal, the Police Merit Board will then hold a public hearing to decide if his termination was ‘unjustified or unsupported by proper evidence’, which could potentially lead to his reinstating.
Hankison’s firing came just days after Lousiville Mayor announced Friday that the cop was being fired, while the Kentucky Attorney General is still yet to decide whether to bring charges three months on from Taylor’s slaying.
Mayor Greg Fischer said the city had begun termination proceedings against Hankison but did not provide further details.
‘Unfortunately, due to a provision in state law that I would very much like to see changed, both the chief and I are precluded from talking about what brought us to this moment or even the timing of this decision,’ he said at a Friday press conference.
The other two cops involved – Jonathan Mattingly and Myles Cosgrave – have not been fired.
Protesters demand justice for Taylor (above). Taylor’s death has sparked outrage across America as three months on none of the three cops involved have been charged with murder
Anger over her death was ignited further following the death of black man George Floyd in Minneapolis on Memorial Day at the hands of a white cop
The three officers said they were investigating drugs offenses and that Taylor’s boyfriend opened fire on them when they entered.
Her family say neither she – a hardworking EMT – nor her boyfriend used drugs and that he fired his gun because he thought the three plain clothes officers were intruders.
Last week, FBI agents searched Taylor’s home for evidence as part of their revived investigation.
Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron said Thursday he was still investigating the case and that he hadn’t yet decided on charges.
‘An investigation of this magnitude requires time and patience… however I can assure you, that at the end of our investigation, we will do what is right. We will find the truth,’ he said.
He added that he would not bow to pressure such as letters from Beyonce while trying to conduct his investigation.
‘It doesn’t matter who sends me a piece of mail, it won’t have any bearing on the case,’ he said.
‘Our responsibility is to the facts and the law.’
Taylor’s death has sparked outrage across America as three months on none of the three cops involved have been charged with murder.
Anger over her death was ignited further following the death of black man George Floyd in Minneapolis on Memorial Day at the hands of a white cop.
Protesters have been taking to the streets of the nation demanding an end to police brutality and systemic racism, and calls are mounting for widespread police reform.