Former Police Officer Cleared in Breonna Taylor Raid; Jury Deadlocks on Second Charge

A jury in Kentucky has cleared a former police officer of violating the civil rights of Breonna Taylor’s neighbors during a fateful raid that occurred in 2020. However, the same jury is currently deadlocked on a second federal charge against the former officer, Brett Hankison.

Deliberations Continue

The jury, as reported by the Associated Press, decided to continue deliberating on the charge against Hankison. This charge pertains to the alleged violation of the civil rights of the late and her boyfriend during the ill-fated raid. The jurors have communicated to the judge in two separate messages that they are deadlocked on this particular count.

Legal Battles

This marks the second attempt to convict the former Louisville police officer on the charges related to his actions during the raid. Last year, a federal judge declared a mistrial after the jurors were unable to reach a decision on the charges against Hankison. The retrial saw a narrowing of the scope, as Hankison faced two civil rights charges alleging that he had willfully used unconstitutionally excessive force while acting in his official capacity.

Details of the Charges

The first charge accused Hankison of depriving Breonna Taylor and her boyfriend of their constitutional rights by firing shots through a bedroom window that was obscured by blinds and a blackout curtain. In the retrial, the boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, was removed from the indictment and was not called to the stand, as reported by the Louisville Courier. The second charge alleged that Hankison had deprived three of Taylor’s neighbors of their constitutional rights by shooting through a sliding glass door that was covered by blinds and a curtain. Both charges indicated that Hankison’s actions were intended to kill.

Chronology of Events

On the 13th of March, 2020, seven officers entered Taylor’s apartment in the middle of the night using a "no-knock" warrant as part of a drug investigation. At the time, Taylor was asleep with her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, who, mistaking the noise for intruders, fired a shot from a gun. In response, the police opened fire, fatally striking Taylor, who was an EMT. It is worth noting that the police did not find any narcotics at the apartment.

The Aftermath

Hankison fired a total of 10 rounds into Taylor’s apartment through a window and sliding glass door, as confirmed by investigators. Notably, these shots did not hit anyone. During the trial, Hankison claimed that he believed he was acting to protect his fellow officers. He testified that he thought there was a back-and-forth gun battle occurring and his fellow officers were in danger, stating that it "sounded like a semiautomatic rifle making its way down the hallway and executing everybody in my (group)." This defense was utilized by Hankison and his legal team during his previous federal trial and a state trial in 2022, for which he was acquitted of all charges after a brief three-hour jury deliberation.