The Tragic Death of Breonna Taylor and the Conviction of Brett Hankison

On March 13, 2020, Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old Black woman, was killed in her Louisville, Kentucky, apartment during a police raid that went horribly wrong. The incident ignited nationwide protests and became a pivotal moment in the fight against police brutality and systemic racism.

One of the officers involved, Brett Hankison, was later convicted of violating Taylor’s civil rights and sentenced to 33 months in prison.

The Incident: A Raid Gone Wrong

In the early hours of March 13, 2020, officers from the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) executed a no-knock search warrant at Breonna Taylor’s apartment. The warrant was part of a narcotics investigation tied to Taylor’s ex-boyfriend, who was suspected of using her address to receive packages. Notably, Taylor herself was not a suspect, and no drugs were found in her apartment.

The raid involved three key officers: Jonathan Mattingly, Myles Cosgrove, and Brett Hankison. According to police accounts, the officers knocked on the door but did not clearly announce their presence as law enforcement—a point of contention in later investigations. Inside the apartment, Taylor was with her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, who was awakened by the noise. Believing the apartment was being invaded by intruders, Walker grabbed his legally owned firearm and fired a single shot, striking Officer Mattingly in the leg.

In response, Mattingly and Cosgrove returned fire, discharging multiple rounds into the apartment. Taylor, standing in the hallway, was hit by six bullets and died at the scene. Meanwhile, Hankison, positioned outside, fired 10 shots through a covered window and sliding glass door. His bullets did not strike anyone but endangered Taylor, Walker, and residents in neighboring apartments.

The aftermath was immediate and explosive. Public outrage erupted over Taylor’s death, the use of no-knock warrants, and the lack of transparency from the LMPD. Walker was initially charged with attempted murder, though those charges were later dropped. Taylor’s family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city, which settled for $12 million, and Louisville subsequently banned no-knock warrants in a reform dubbed “Breonna’s Law.”

The Criminal Case Against Brett Hankison

While the officers who directly shot Taylor—Mattingly and Cosgrove—were not charged with her death, Brett Hankison faced legal scrutiny for his actions during the raid. His 10 errant shots through the covered window became the focal point of multiple investigations.

State Charges: Wanton Endangerment

In September 2020, a Kentucky grand jury indicted Hankison on three counts of wanton endangerment, a state charge related to endangering Taylor’s neighbors with his gunfire. Notably, this indictment did not address Taylor’s death directly, fueling further public frustration. In March 2022, Hankison was acquitted of these charges after his defense argued that his actions were consistent with police training under chaotic circumstances.

Federal Charges: Civil Rights Violations

The case took a significant turn in August 2022 when the U.S. Department of Justice stepped in, charging Hankison with two counts of violating federal civil rights. These charges focused on his excessive use of force during the raid, alleging that his decision to fire blindly through the covered window violated the Fourth Amendment rights of Taylor and her neighbors to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures.

The federal case was tumultuous, with two mistrials due to hung juries. However, on November 1, 2024, a third trial resulted in a historic conviction. The jury found Hankison guilty on one count of violating Taylor’s civil rights, determining that his use of deadly force was reckless and unjustified. Prosecutors emphasized a core principle: officers cannot shoot if they cannot see their target. This marked the first criminal conviction of an officer involved in the raid, though it was not for Taylor’s death itself.

The Sentencing: From One Day to 33 Months

Hankison’s sentencing on July 21, 2025, became a flashpoint of controversy. Ahead of the hearing, the Justice Department, under the Trump administration, submitted a sentencing memorandum recommending a mere one-day sentence. The DOJ argued that Hankison’s shots did not kill Taylor or injure anyone, framing his actions as a technical violation rather than a deadly offense. This recommendation drew sharp criticism from Taylor’s family, civil rights advocates, and lawmakers, who saw it as a minimization of the tragedy.

However, U.S. District Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings rejected the DOJ’s lenient proposal. On July 21, 2025, she sentenced Hankison to 33 months in prison—approximately 2.75 years. This sentence, while far exceeding the DOJ’s suggestion, fell short of the maximum possible penalty of life imprisonment for a civil rights violation involving excessive force. The judge’s decision likely reflected the severity of the violation, public demand for accountability, and Hankison’s lack of prior criminal history.

Reactions to the sentence were polarized. Taylor’s family and supporters expressed disappointment, arguing that 33 months was insufficient given the loss of life and the broader implications of the case. Attorneys for the family stated, “This sentence sends the unmistakable message that white officers can violate the civil rights of Black Americans with near-total impunity.” Conversely, some legal analysts and Hankison’s defense team viewed the sentence as fair, noting that he did not directly cause Taylor’s death.

An Unfortunate Circumstance for All Involved

The Breonna Taylor case is a heartbreaking illustration of how a cascade of errors and systemic issues can lead to irreversible tragedy. For all parties involved, the incident was marked by misfortune and unintended consequences.

The Officers

For Mattingly, Cosgrove, and Hankison, the raid was a routine operation based on what they believed was credible intelligence. The no-knock warrant, approved by a judge, was intended to catch suspects off guard in a narcotics investigation. However, the lack of clear announcement, the rapid escalation, and Hankison’s reckless gunfire turned a standard procedure into a deadly fiasco. While Mattingly and Cosgrove escaped charges, Hankison’s conviction and imprisonment reflect the personal and professional toll of that night.

Breonna Taylor and Her Family

For Breonna Taylor, a hardworking emergency medical technician with no criminal involvement, the raid was a senseless intrusion that cost her life. Her family was left grappling with grief and a quest for justice that, even with Hankison’s conviction, felt incomplete. The $12 million settlement provided financial relief but could not undo the loss of a beloved daughter, sister, and friend.

The Community and Society

For Louisville and the nation, Taylor’s death exposed deep flaws in policing practices—particularly the use of no-knock warrants and the lack of accountability for officers. The protests that followed, part of the broader Black Lives Matter movement, underscored a collective demand for reform. Yet, the partial justice delivered in Hankison’s case left many questioning whether systemic change would truly follow.

A Complex Legacy

The sentencing of Brett Hankison to 33 months in prison is a bittersweet chapter in the Breonna Taylor saga. It represents a rare instance of accountability for an officer involved in her death, yet it does not fully address the actions of those who fired the fatal shots. The case remains a stark reminder of the human cost of policing failures and the urgent need for reform in how warrants are executed and civil rights are protected.

For everyone touched by this tragedy—the officers, Taylor’s family, and a watching nation—it was an unfortunate circumstance born of misjudgment, fear, and systemic shortcomings. As America continues to grapple with these issues, Breonna Taylor’s name endures as both a call for justice and a symbol of the work still ahead.