Ex-Kentucky Officer Sentenced 33 Months Over Breonna Taylor Death

Brett Hankison, a former Louisville police officer, was sentenced to 33 months in prison for using excessive force during the 2020 raid that led to Breonna Taylor's death. Hankison fired 10 shots during the botched drug raid, none of which hit Taylor, but his reckless shooting narrowly missed a neighboring family and caused widespread outrage. The sentence contrasts with the US Department of Justice's recommendation of no prison time, a stance criticized by the judge and Taylor's family. Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings emphasized that no prison time would undermine the jury's verdict and expressed surprise that more people were not injured. The raid, which involved a no-knock warrant targeting an ex-partner of Taylor, resulted in her being fatally shot and sparked nationwide protests against police brutality. Hankison is the first officer to be sentenced in the case, which remains a symbol of ongoing calls for police accountability and racial justice.