A federal judge sentenced Brett Hankison, a former Louisville police officer, to 33 months in prison for using excessive force during the flawed 2020 drug raid that led to Breonna Taylor’s death on Monday.
The Justice Department had advised against prison time, but U.S. District Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings strongly disagreed with that suggestion.
Judge criticizes DOJ recommendation
Judge Jennings openly criticized the DOJ’s call for probation and minimal punishment. She described their recommendation as “inappropriate” and claimed it downplayed the seriousness of Hankison’s actions.
She stated that treating the case as “inconsequential” was wrong and added, “I am startled no one else was injured.”
Hankison’s role in the raid
During the raid, Hankison fired 10 bullets, none of which struck anyone. However, the shots entered Taylor’s apartment walls and traveled into a neighboring unit, putting innocent people in danger.
Although he was not charged with killing Taylor, Hankison was the only officer at the scene to face federal charges for what happened during the operation.
He will also serve three years of supervised release once he completes his prison sentence. The Bureau of Prisons will decide when and where he starts serving time.
Civil rights attorney calls sentence necessary
Ben Crump, a prominent civil rights lawyer who previously secured a $12 million settlement for Taylor’s family, condemned the DOJ’s recommendation. He viewed it as a failure to seek real justice.
Speaking outside the courthouse, Crump led a group in a call-and-response chant: “Say her name” — “Breonna Taylor.”
Breonna Taylor’s case helped spark a movement
Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old emergency medical worker, died in March 2020 when officers stormed her apartment during a drug investigation. Her death, followed by George Floyd’s killing two months later, became a rallying point in protests across the U.S. demanding police reform and racial justice.
DOJ’s position under new leadership draws backlash
After Hankison’s conviction, the Justice Department — now under the Trump administration — suggested a sentence of probation and counted one day already served as enough. They argued Hankison no longer posed a threat to public safety.
This shift in stance outraged many civil rights advocates and Taylor’s supporters, who felt the change betrayed the fight for justice.
