The federal case involving the raid of a home that led to the death of Breonna Taylor ended in a mistrial Thursday.
Brett Hankison, 47, the former police officer in the case, had been accused of excessive force in the case that ended Taylor's life.
Federal civil rights case surrounding Breonna Taylor raid ends in mistrial https://t.co/ILJCd2Kwv1
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) November 17, 2023
"That same year, Hankison was fired from the police force. Months later, he would be charged in Jefferson County court with three counts of wanton endangerment in the first degree," the Washington Examiner reported.
"However, in March of last year, he was acquitted of all three charges and avoided as much as 15 years in prison," it added.
BREAKING: A mistrial was declared by a judge in the federal case against former Louisville police officer Brett Hankison. He was charged with violating the civil rights of Breonna Taylor, her boyfriend who was in the house with her, and their neighbors. https://t.co/3TjLPw77Te
— ABC News (@ABC) November 16, 2023
"Hours earlier, the jury sent a note to the judge stating that they were at an impasse and had not been able to reach a unanimous decision," ABC News reported.
"The judge then ordered the jury to resume deliberations in what is known as an Allen charge. An Allen charge is when the judge asks the jury to return to deliberations to come to a unanimous decision after the jury tells the court they have reached an impasse," it continued.
BREAKING: Mistrial declared in case involving a former Louisville police officer accused of violating Breonna Taylor's civil rights in the 2020 botched raid that led to her death. https://t.co/3UDVIVMb4y
— NBC News (@NBCNews) November 16, 2023
"He faced a maximum sentence of life in prison. Federal prosecutors could decide to retry Hankison," NBC News reported.
"He was accused of using excessive force when he fired 10 shots into Taylor’s window and a glass door after officers came under fire during the flawed drug warrant search on March 13, 2020. Some of his shots flew into a neighboring apartment, but none of them struck anyone," it noted.
The high-profile case was the focus of the nation at the time of the events with accusations of racism and other concerns.
The case later showed the details in the account that included criminal activity by an individual pursued by the officer but also questions about excessive force.
The trial now ends with more controversy as no decision was reached by the jury in the major case that captured headlines nationwide.
