Prosecutors Intend To Retry Ex-Louisville Officer Who Fired Shots In Breonna Taylor Raid

After a mistrial, federal prosecutors intend to retry ex-Louisville officer Brett Hankinson for his use of excessive force during the fatal raid of Breonna Taylor's home.

Federal prosecutors will attempt to retry a policeman involved in the Louisville no-knock raid of Breonna Taylor’s home in March 2020 that resulted in her death. The case of whether ex-officer Brett Hankinson used excessive force during the incident ended in a mistrial due to not reaching a unanimous decision by a jury in November.

The 12-member jury, comprised mainly of white people, could not reach a unanimous verdict. However, the judge relayed that the deliberation room was intense, overhearing “elevated voices” that prompted security to enter. Despite calls from one of the prosecutors over the trial, Michael Songer, to allow them more time to decide, the judge declared a mistrial on the grounds the jury “cannot get past” certain issues regarding the case.

Although his bullets did not strike anyone, Hankinson fired his gun 10 times as the bullets went into Taylor’s apartment as well as a neighbor’s. Despite the mistrial, prosecutors have shared with the public that the “government intends” to seek justice in the case. If the retrial is set in motion, Hankinson’s case will have been heard in front of the courts for the third time, being acquitted last year on state charges of wanton endangerment after shooting the windows and a glass door in Taylor’s home.

According to ABC News, the retrial is set for October 2024 by order of U.S. District Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings, but prosecutors are aiming for an earlier time in the summer. However, Hankinson may replace his counsel before the new date occurs, as revealed by one of his defense lawyers, Jack Byrd.

As for the other former members of the Louisville Police Department still facing trial, ex-officer Kelly Goodlett pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and civil rights violations. The Courier-Journal reported that Goodlett is expected to testify against other officers, Joshua Jaynes and Kyle Meany, during their trials.