Breonna Taylor Shooting: Louisville Police Fires Officer Brett Hankison For Misusing ‘Deadly Force’

After Mayor Greg Fischer announced that Brett Hankison, one of the three officers involved in the killing of Breonna Taylor, will be fired, the Louisville Metro Police Department has released its letter of termination to Hankison for misusing “deadly force” and violated multiple policies. He has been given 10 days to appeal against his firing.

In the letter, Chief of Police Robert Schroeder at the Louisville Metro Police Department wrote that he has found that Hankison has violated the use of deadly force. He broke rules and regulations standard operating procedures when he "wantonly and blindly fired 10 rounds into the apartment of Breonna Taylor on March 13, 2020."

"These rounds created a substantial danger of death and serious injury to Breonna Taylor and the three occupants of the apartment next to Ms. Taylor's," Schroeder wrote, adding that Hankison did it all without any "supporting facts” that proved Taylor was a threat.

"In fact, the 10 rounds you fired were into a patio door and window which were covered with a material that completely prevented you from verifying any person as an immediate threat or more importantly any innocent persons present," the letter stated.

Schroeder further added that the actions Hankison were "extreme violations of our policies."

"I find your conduct a shock to the conscience," Schroeder said. "I am alarmed and stunned you used deadly force in this fashion."

Currently, no charges have been levied against the three officers. Earlier, Hankison and the other two officers-Jonathan Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove- were given administrative leave from the department after they entered Taylor’s residence on March 13 on a "no-knock" warrant in a drug investigation. But not only was the person they were looking for not there at Taylor's house, but he has also been arrested shortly before the officers barged into the house and opened fire.

Following Breonna Taylor’s death, the Louisville City Council unanimously banned any future “no-knock warrant” under a new law, named "Breonna's Law" on June 11. As per the new law, officers will now be required to knock and wait for at least 15 seconds before entering a residence.

Earlier, Hankison and the other two officers-Jonathan Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove- were given administrative leave from the department.