Former Louisville police officer Brett Hankison testified in federal court on Monday, claiming that he felt the blast of a gunshot before officers opened fire and killed Breonna Taylor during a botched drug raid in 2020. According to Hankison, he believed there was a back-and-forth gun battle happening when he fired into Taylor’s apartment after officers breached the door. The raid resulted in Taylor being shot and killed in her hallway, sparking national attention and protests against police brutality.
Hankison is the only officer who has faced a jury trial in Taylor’s death so far. He has testified in multiple trials that his actions were intended to protect officers, particularly after one officer was shot during the raid. In his previous trials, Hankison’s testimony has been powerful, leading to different outcomes in the verdicts. The ongoing retrial focuses on civil rights charges against Hankison for endangering Taylor and her neighbors by firing into her apartment during the raid.
During his testimony, Hankison described the chaotic scene during the raid, mentioning that he believed an AR-15 rifle was being shot at officers. He testified that he saw bright bursts of light through the glass door and window, which led him to believe that the shooter inside was firing at them. The prosecution is expected to cross-examine Hankison during the trial, which is currently in its third week, to challenge his statements and actions during the raid.
Former Sgt. John Mattingly, who was also involved in the raid and later retired from the department, testified that he saw a person holding a gun at the end of the hallway before he was shot. Taylor’s boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, has claimed that he thought an intruder was breaking in when he fired a single shot after officers breached the door. Mattingly expressed support for Hankison’s actions, stating that he would have done the same thing in a similar situation.
Hankison and three other former officers were charged by the U.S. Department of Justice in 2022 with violating Breonna Taylor’s civil rights. The charges against Hankison carry a maximum penalty of life in prison if he is convicted. The prosecution has argued that Hankison violated police policy during the raid by failing to identify a target before firing, while witnesses, including the police chief, have testified that his actions were not in line with standard procedures. The ongoing trial will continue to examine the events surrounding Taylor’s death and the officers’ actions during the raid.
