Brett Hankison Convicted for Civil Rights Violation

A federal jury has convicted former Louisville Metro Police Detective Brett Hankison of violating the civil rights of Breonna Taylor during a botched no-knock raid that resulted in her death in March 2020. This verdict marks the first criminal accountability for any officer involved in the raid that sparked nationwide protests against police violence. While the jury found Hankison not guilty of violating the rights of Taylor's neighbors, they deliberated for over 20 hours before convicting him of using excessive force against Taylor herself. Despite the conviction, neither of the officers who shot Taylor, John Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove, faced charges as federal prosecutors deemed their actions justified. The case has drawn attention to systemic issues within law enforcement and has been a significant moment in the ongoing discourse surrounding racial injustice. Hankison now faces a maximum sentence of life in prison as a result of the conviction.