Police officer involved in Breonna Taylor's fatal shooting to be fired
19 June 2020, 19:19
A police officer involved in the death of Breonna Taylor will be fired, it has been announced today.
Breonna, a 26-year-old EMT, died on 13 March after being shot eight times whilst sleeping in her own house in Louisville.
Three officers had entered the property on a no-knock search warrant, which have now been banned in the state in the wake of the shooting.
They had obtained the warrant to search the home for drugs, which were not found in the property.
In a statement today, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said termination proceedings were being proceeded against Officer Brett Hankison.
Two other officers remain on administrative reassignment while the shooting is investigated.
Mr Fischer said officials could not answer questions about the firing because of state law. He referred all questions to the Jefferson County attorney's office.
A letter the chief sent to Mr Hankison said the officer violated standard operating procedures when he "wantonly and blindly fired 10 rounds into the apartment of Breonna Taylor".
The letter said he fired the rounds "without supporting facts" that the deadly force was directed at a person posing an immediate threat.
"In fact, the 10 rounds you fired were into a patio door and window which were covered with material that completely prevented you from verifying any person as an immediate threat or more importantly any innocent persons present," the letter said.
"I find your conduct a shock to the conscience," Mr Schroeder wrote. "Your actions have brought discredit upon yourself and the department."
Sam Aguiar, a lawyer for Ms Taylor's family said the move was overdue.
"It's about damn time. It should have happened a long time ago, but thankfully it's at least happening now," Mr Aguiar said.
"This is an officer that's plagued our streets and made this city worse for over a dozen years. Let's hope that this is a start to some good, strong criminal proceedings against Officer Hankison, because he definitely deserves to at least be charged."
The warrant to search Ms Taylor's home was in connection with a suspect who did not live there.
Police used a no-knock search warrant, which allows them to enter without announcing their presence. Louisville's
Metro Council recently voted to ban the use of no-knock warrants.
The release in late May of a 911 call by Ms Taylor's boyfriend marked the beginning of days of protests in Louisville, fuelled by her death and that of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis.
Beyonce recently joined the call for charges against the officers involved in Ms Taylor's shooting.
The superstar said in a letter to Kentucky attorney general Daniel Cameron that the three Louisville police officers "must be held accountable for their actions".
