Breonna Taylor: officer fired after Louisville fatal shooting
The Mayor of Louisville Greg Fischer announced on Friday that one of three police officers involved in the Breonna Taylor case has been fired.
One of the three police officers involved in the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky, has been fired according to the mayor Greg Fischer. Paperwork was initiated for the termination of officer Brett Hankinson who was involved in the shooting and killing of Taylor on 13 March.
Breonna Taylor officer fired
Hankinson is being accused by the department’s interim chief, Robert Schroeder, for “blindly” firing 10 rounds into Taylor’s apartment, creating a “substantial danger of death and serious injury. I find your conduct a shock to the conscience," he added.
"The result of your action seriously impedes the Department's goal of providing the citizens of our city with the most professional law enforcement agency possible. I cannot tolerate this type of conduct by any member of the Louisville Metro Police Department," he continued. "Your conduct demands your termination."
Taylor’s family has named Hankinson along with the other two officers involved in her death in a wrongful death lawsuit. Attorneys for Taylor's family say her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, fearing a home invasion, called 911, grabbed a gun and fired, shooting an officer in the leg. He had a license to carry and keep firearms in the home. Taylor was unarmed.
The other two officers who fired their weapons at Taylor’s apartment, Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly and Officer Myles Cosgrove, remain on administrative reassignment.
"Unfortunately, due to a provision in state law that I would very much like to see changed, both the chief and I are precluded from talking about what brought us to this moment or even the timing of this decision," Fischer said.
Other chargers against Hankinson
Hankison in recent weeks has also been accused of sexual assault by multiple women in viral social media posts. The allegations are similar, saying that he offered intoxicated women a ride home from bars before sexually assaulting them.
In addition, Hankinson is being accused of violating departmental policies on obedience to rules and regulations and use of deadly force. Schroeder, who wrote that he received the investigation on Tuesday, noted that Hankinson was previously disciplined for reckless conduct and was disciplined in early 2019.