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Breonna Taylor
EMT Killed by Louisville Police in No-Knock Raid
26-year-old emergency medical technician who was shot and killed by Louisville Metro Police Department officers during a botched no-knock raid on her apartment on March 13, 2020
Overview
Breonna Taylor (1993-2020) was a 26-year-old emergency medical technician and aspiring nurse who was shot and killed by Louisville Metro Police Department officers in the early hours of March 13, 2020, during the execution of a no-knock search warrant at her apartment at 3003 Springfield Drive in Louisville, Kentucky. Officers Jonathan Mattingly, Brett Hankison, and Myles Cosgrove used a battering ram to break down Taylor door shortly after 12:40 AM. Taylor boyfriend Kenneth Walker, a licensed gun owner who said he believed intruders were breaking in, fired a single shot that struck Mattingly in the leg. Officers responded with 32 rounds, striking Taylor six times and killing her. The warrant had been obtained by Detective Joshua Jaynes based on a claim that Taylor was receiving packages for Jamarcus Glover, her ex-boyfriend, who was a suspect in a drug investigation. Jaynes stated in the warrant affidavit that he had verified through a postal inspector that Glover was receiving packages at Taylor address, but the postal inspector later said he had told the officers that Taylor was not receiving suspicious packages. No drugs were found in Taylor apartment. A grand jury indicted only Brett Hankison on three counts of wanton endangerment for shots that traveled into a neighboring apartment, not for Taylor death. Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron was later found to have not presented homicide charges to the grand jury against the other officers. In August 2022, the U.S. DOJ brought federal civil rights charges against Jaynes, Hankison, Mattingly, and former Detective Kelly Goodlett. Goodlett pleaded guilty to a federal conspiracy charge. Hankison was acquitted of the federal charges. In 2022, Louisville agreed to a $12 million wrongful death settlement with Taylor family and enacted Breonna Law banning no-knock warrants.
Key Affiliations
Controversies & Concerns
Shot six times and killed by Louisville Metro Police officers during a no-knock raid at 12:40 AM on March 13, 2020; she was unarmed and in her hallway
The no-knock warrant was obtained by Detective Joshua Jaynes based on claims the postal inspector later contradicted; no drugs were found in her apartment
A grand jury only indicted one officer (Hankison) on wanton endangerment for shots into a neighbor apartment, not for Taylor death
Kentucky AG Daniel Cameron did not present homicide charges to the grand jury, a fact revealed by an anonymous grand juror who filed suit to speak publicly
Her death became a national symbol of policing failures and the dangers of no-knock warrants, sparking months of protests in Louisville and nationwide
Louisville paid $12 million to Taylor family in a wrongful death settlement and enacted Breonna Law banning no-knock warrants
Federal DOJ brought civil rights charges against four officers in 2022; Detective Kelly Goodlett pleaded guilty to conspiracy
Related Investigations (1)
Known Associates & Connections
Brett Hankison
Louisville Metro Police officer who fired 10 rounds during the raid, some penetrating a neighboring apartment; indicted on wanton endangerment; acquitted federally
Joshua Jaynes
Detective who obtained the no-knock warrant using claims the postal inspector contradicted; charged federally in 2022
Tamika Palmer
Mother of Breonna Taylor who became a prominent civil rights advocate after her daughter killing
Kenneth Walker
Boyfriend who was present and fired a single shot believing intruders were breaking in; initially charged with assault but charges were dropped
Sources & Documentation
3 documented sources from official records, investigations, and reports
New York Times: Breonna Taylor Was Killed by Police. The Full Story of What Happened.(2020-09-18)
U.S. DOJ: Four Current and Former Louisville Metro Police Department Officers Charged with Federal Crimes(2022-08-04)
Louisville Courier-Journal: Breonna Taylor Complete Timeline of Events(2022)
Personal Information
- Born
- 1993-06-05
- Birthplace
- Grand Rapids, Michigan
Education
- •University of Kentucky (Pre-Nursing coursework)
Key Timeline
1993-06-05
Born Breonna Taylor in Grand Rapids, Michigan
2020-03-13
Shot and killed by Louisville Metro Police officers Mattingly, Cosgrove, and Hankison during a no-knock raid at her apartment at 12:40 AM; officers fire 32 rounds
2020-05
FBI opens investigation into the circumstances of her death
2020-06-11
Louisville Metro Council votes to ban no-knock warrants, enacting "Breonna Law"
2020-09-15
City of Louisville agrees to pay $12 million wrongful death settlement to Taylor family
2020-09-23
Grand jury indicts only Brett Hankison on three counts of wanton endangerment for shots that entered a neighboring apartment; no charges for Taylor death
2020-10-20
Anonymous grand juror files suit and is allowed to speak publicly, revealing the AG did not present homicide charges to the grand jury
2022-08-04
U.S. DOJ brings federal civil rights charges against officers Jaynes, Hankison, Mattingly, and former detective Kelly Goodlett
2022-08
Detective Kelly Goodlett pleads guilty to federal conspiracy charge for falsifying the warrant affidavit and conspiracy to cover up the false information
2023-03
Brett Hankison acquitted of federal civil rights charges