Killing of Breonna Taylor

Killing of Breonna Taylor
DateMarch 13, 2020; 4 years ago (2020-03-13)
Timec. 12:40 a.m. (EDT; UTC−4)[1]
LocationLouisville, Kentucky, U.S.
TypeHomicide, police brutality, shooting
ParticipantsShooters in raid:
Myles Cosgrove (fatal shot)
Brett Hankison
Jonathan Mattingly
Alleged conspirators:
Joshua Jaynes
Kelly Goodlett[a]
Kyle Meany
Deaths1[b]
Non-fatal injuries1[c]
Arrests6[2][3][d]
Accused
  • Joshua Jaynes
  • Kyle Meany
ConvictedBrett Hankison
Kelly Goodlett
ChargesFederal charges:
Jaynes:
Conspiracy, obstruction of justice
Meany:
Making false statements[2]
State charges:
Hankison:
First-degree wanton endangerment (3 counts)[e]
TrialThe Commonwealth of Kentucky v. Brett Hankison (2022)
The United States of America v. Brett Hankison (2023; 2024)
VerdictFederal charges:
Goodlett:
Pleaded guilty
Hankison:
Hung jury in first trial; guilty of one of two counts in retrial
Jaynes, Meany:
Trial pending, charges later reduced.[4]
State charges:
Hankison:
Not guilty
ConvictionsHankison:
Deprivation of rights under color of law
Goodlett:
Conspiracy (2 counts)[5]
Litigation3[f][g][h]

Breonna Taylor, aged 26, was an African-American medical worker who was killed on March 13, 2020, after police officers from Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) forced entry into her home. Taylor's boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, fired a warning shot, mistaking the police for intruders, and wounded officer Jonathan Mattingly. Mattingly and two other LMPD officers—Brett Hankison and Myles Cosgrove—opened fire. It was determined that Cosgrove fired the fatal shot and that none of Hankison's shots hit anyone.[11][12] Taylor's family was awarded $12 million in compensation and was given a promise the LMPD would reform its practices.[13]

The killing of Taylor by white police officers, and the initial lack of charges against the LMPD officers involved, sparked numerous protests with supporters adopting the motto #SayHerName. These protests against police brutality and racism were concurrent with the ongoing Black Lives Matter movement across the United States.[14] The civil unrest was exacerbated when the grand jury chose not to indict Mattingly or Cosgrove—the officers who shot Taylor.[15][16] Prosecutors said their use of force was justified as Walker fired first.[17] Some jurors accused Attorney General Daniel Cameron of covering up what happened.[18][19]

On August 23, 2022, Kelly Goodlett, who was not present during the raid, pled guilty to charges related to obtaining the warrant used.[20] On November 1, 2024, Brett Hankison was found guilty of depriving Taylor of her civil rights by a federal jury for using excessive force.[21][17]

  1. ^ Costello, Darcy; Duvall, Tessa (May 15, 2020). "Minute by minute: What happened the night Louisville police fatally shot Breonna Taylor". USA Today. Gannett. ISSN 0734-7456. Archived from the original on May 15, 2020.
  2. ^ a b McLaughlin, Eliott C.; Moghe, Sonia; Rabinowitz, Hannah (August 4, 2022). "Four current, former Louisville police officers federally charged in Breonna Taylor's death". CNN. Archived from the original on August 4, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  3. ^ "Feds charge 4 police officers in fatal Breonna Taylor raid". Associated Press. August 4, 2022. Archived from the original on April 12, 2023. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  4. ^ Wood, Josh; Smith, Rachel; Aulbach, Lucas (August 22, 2024). "Key federal charges dropped against former LMPD officers behind Breonna Taylor warrant". Louisville Courier Journal. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  5. ^ "Former Louisville, Kentucky, Police Detective Pleads Guilty to a Federal Crime Related to the Death of Breonna Taylor". August 23, 2022. Archived from the original on September 6, 2022. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
  6. ^ "Mayor Fischer announces settlement in civil lawsuit filed by Breonna Taylor's estate". LouisvilleKy.gov (Press release). Louisville-Jefferson County Metro Government. September 15, 2020. Archived from the original on October 8, 2020. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
    Links to settlement documents are at the end of the article in the Documents section: "Release and Settlement Agreement" (Archived September 24, 2020, at the Wayback Machine) and "Exhibit 1" (Archived October 5, 2020, at the Wayback Machine)
  7. ^ Wells, David (September 1, 2020). "Breonna Taylor's Boyfriend Sues Louisville Police". Courthouse News Service. Archived from the original on September 30, 2020. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  8. ^ Kachmar, Kala (September 1, 2020). "'I can no longer remain silent': Breonna Taylor's boyfriend sues, claims police misconduct". The Courier-Journal. ISSN 1930-2177. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  9. ^ Complaint for Declaratory and Monetary Relief (PDF) (Petition/Complaint), Jefferson County, Kentucky: Courthouse News Service, September 1, 2020, 20-CI-005086, archived (PDF) from the original on October 1, 2020, retrieved October 9, 2020
  10. ^ Bullington, Jonathan (September 24, 2020). "Attorney for Breonna Taylor's neighbor: 'Everyone affected that night deserves justice'". The Courier-Journal. Archived from the original on December 29, 2020. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference Vera-2021 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference kenning_092820 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference APNews was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  14. ^ Hay, Andrew; Allen, Jonathan (September 28, 2020). Maler, Sandra; Osterman, Cynthia; Gregorio, David (eds.). "Former Louisville detective pleads not guilty in Breonna Taylor case". Reuters. Archived from the original on October 21, 2020. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  15. ^ Callimachi, Rukmini; Bogel-Burroughs, Nicholas; Eligon, John; Wright, Will (October 2, 2020). "Fired Officer Is Indicted in Breonna Taylor Case; Protesters Wanted Stronger Charges". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 29, 2020. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  16. ^ "Louisville police officers shot as Breonna Taylor protesters take to streets". Fox News. September 24, 2020. Archived from the original on December 29, 2020. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  17. ^ a b "Ex-officer Brett Hankison guilty in death of Breonna Taylor". www.bbc.com. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  18. ^ "Breonna Taylor: Grand Jury 'Not Given Chance to Bring Homicide Charges'". BBC News. October 21, 2020. Archived from the original on December 29, 2020. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  19. ^ "Breonna Taylor grand jury recordings released". BBC News. October 2, 2020. Archived from the original on December 29, 2020. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  20. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  21. ^ "Ex-Louisville officer guilty of violating Breonna Taylor's civil rights".


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