Louisville detective fired over killing of Breonna Taylor

Tim Stelloh
Updated ·1 min read

One of three Kentucky police officers involved in the killing of Breonna Taylor earlier this year was fired Tuesday, authorities said.

Image: US-POLICE-CRIME-RACISM (Courtesy of Family of Breonna Taylor / AFP - Getty Images)
Image: US-POLICE-CRIME-RACISM (Courtesy of Family of Breonna Taylor / AFP - Getty Images)

In a two-page letter to Louisville Metro Police Department detective Brett Hankison, chief Robert J. Schroeder said that Hankison violated the department’s regulations and deadly force standards.

“Based upon my review, these are extreme violations of our policies,” he wrote. “I find your conduct a shock to the conscience.”

Louisville police officer Brett Hankison. (Louisville Metro Police Department)
Louisville police officer Brett Hankison. (Louisville Metro Police Department)

Taylor, 26, an African American emergency-room technician, was killed by police March 13 after three plainclothes officers used a "no-knock" warrant to enter her apartment around 12:40 a.m. as part of a drug investigation.

Taylor was shot eight times.

The case has drawn widespread criticism and national protests. Two other officers are on administrative reassignment while the shooting is investigated.