One of the police officers involved in Breonna Taylor’s shooting death was fired for “blindly” firing 10 rounds into her apartment.
On Friday, the Louisville Metro Police Department announced the termination of Officer Brett Hankison for displaying “an extreme indifference to the value of human life” when he “wantonly and blindly” opened fire inside Taylor’s apartment on March 13, while executing a no-knock warrant in search of a drug dealer who was already in custody.
“You used deadly force by blindly firing ten rounds into Breonna Taylor’s apartment without supporting facts that your deadly force was directed at a person (who) posed an immediate threat of danger or serious injury to yourself or others,” police chief Robert Schroeder said in a letter advising Hankison of his termination.
“In fact, the ten 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 chief wrote.
“I find your conduct a shock to the conscience. I am alarmed and stunned you used deadly force in this fashion,” the chief added.
The LMPD shared the letter on Twitter.com on Friday.
Taylor, 26, and her boyfriend Kenneth Walker, 27 were asleep in bed when three officers broke down their front door.
Walker grabbed his firearm and shot at the officers, believing they were home invaders. Taylor was shot eight times in the ensuing chaos.
“Somebody kicked in the door and shot my girlfriend,” a distraught Walker said in a 911 call.
Walker was not injured in the shootout but he was arrested and charged with attempted murder. All charges against him were later dropped and he was released.
Two other officers who discharged their weapons — Sgt. Jon Mattingly and Det. Myles Cosgrove — are still on the police force.
No arrests were announced.
