The US Justice Department is recommending a one-day prison sentence for Brett Hankison, the former Louisville police officer convicted of violating Breonna Taylor’s civil rights during a 2020 raid that ended in her death. The raid, which involved a no-knock warrant, led to the fatal shooting of Taylor, a Black woman, and sparked nationwide protests alongside the killing of George Floyd. Hankison was the only officer convicted in connection to the incident. Although a federal jury found him guilty of using excessive force by firing ten shots blindly into Taylor’s apartment, prosecutors argue that he did not directly cause her death, as none of his bullets struck anyone. The government said the jury’s decision effectively ended Hankison’s law enforcement career, and additional prison time would be "unjust under these circumstances." They requested three years of supervised release in addition to the single day in prison, which would be considered already served. Attorneys for Breonna Taylor’s family criticized the recommendation, calling it an insult and warning it sets a dangerous precedent. In their statement, they said the decision sends the message that white officers can violate the civil rights of Black Americans with little or no consequence. The tragic incident occurred when officers entered Taylor’s apartment in the early morning, believing her ex-boyfriend was using her home to store drugs. Taylor’s current boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, fired one shot believing intruders were breaking in. Police responded with 32 bullets, six of which struck Taylor. Hankison claimed he fired to protect fellow officers, but prosecutors argued he violated basic rules of using deadly force. Hankison was fired from the Louisville Police Department in June 2020. The judge will consider the sentencing recommendation in a hearing scheduled for next week.
See also: Trump Orders Release of More Epstein Documents Amid Pressure and WSJ Lawsuit Threat
Comments
Post a Comment