Breonna Taylor: Brett Hankison pleads not guilty to shooting charges, denied firearms despite ‘death threats’
A former Louisville cop involved in the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor has pleaded not guilty to related charges. Brett Hankison made his not guilty plea during a telephone court appearance Monday afternoon. He is the only officer to be indicted in Taylor's case, The Sun reported. Hankison was charged with three counts of wanton endangerment in the first degree last week, after being fired by the Louisville Metro Police Department for his alleged role in the incident. The former officer made the plea the same day Kentucky's attorney general's office said it would release the recordings of deliberations after a grand juror claimed they were publicly misrepresented.
Taylor was shot dead on March 13, when Hankison, Detective Myles Cosgrove, and Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly were executing a no-knock search warrant at her apartment as part of a probe into a suspected drug operation. The 26-year-old and her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, 27, were asleep when police entered the apartment. Walker allegedly suspected a home invasion and opened fire at the officers, striking Mattingly in the leg. In response, the officers reportedly fired 32 shots inside the apartment -- at least five of which hit 26-year-old EMT Taylor, leaving her fatally injured.
According to Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, Hankison -- who fired 10 of the 32 shots -- faces up to five years in prison if convicted on said charges. The former cop, during his phone hearing Monday, only spoke to acknowledge that he was present. He then pointed out to Judge Anne Bailey Smith that his attorney Steward Matthews had not called into the conference. Matthews joined the conference shortly after and entered the not-guilty plea on behalf of his client.
According to The Sun, Hankison's bond is set at $15,000 on conditions that he "attends every court hearing, even if virtual, and that he gives up all his firearms." Matthews asked the judge to reconsider the firearm stipulation for his client, noting that Hankison has received numerous death threats over Taylor's death. Judge Bailey, however, denied the request. "People in this court who are charged with offenses with firearms, I do not allow them to possess firearms as part of their bond," he declared.
That said, Hankison's next pre-trial court appearance is scheduled for October 28. This comes after months of nationwide protests -- often violent -- demanding justice for Taylor. A grand jury delivered its indictment against Hankison last week.
Taylor's family and their supporters were disappointed by Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron's verdict that the officers were justified in their use of force. In fact, the grand jury's final decision sparked outrage among anti-law enforcement protesters in major cities across the US. Several of these protests turned violent, per police accounts and viral clips online, vastly damaging private as well as public property.
Cosgrove, Mattingly, and four other officers are facing an internal investigation by the Louisville Metro Police Department's Professional Standards Unit since the incident, a spokesman has confirmed. The probe is reportedly looking into the officers' conduct and the legitimacy of their actions during the incident.
It's worth noting that the city of Louisville, around two weeks ago, agreed to pay a $12-million settlement to Taylor's family over a wrongful death lawsuit brought on by them.