Latest news with #drugsraid
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Yahoo
Former Kentucky police officer Brett Hankison sentenced to three years in prison over Breonna Taylor death
A former Kentucky police officer has been sentenced to nearly three years in prison for using excessive force during the botched drugs raid that killed Breonna Taylor. Brett Hankison's 10 shots did not hit anyone - but he is the only person at the scene charged over her death in 2020. The sentence comes despite the US Department of Justice recommending he should not be locked up. District judge Rebecca Grady Jennings disagreed, arguing that not imprisoning him would minimise the jury's verdict. She said she was "startled" people weren't hurt by his excessive shooting. Hankison's shots narrowly missed a neighbouring family after they pierced the walls of Ms Taylor's apartment. , 26, was killed in March 2020 when Louisville officers carried out a "no-knock" warrant and broke down her door. Her boyfriend thought it was someone breaking in and fired a single shot in self-defence, hitting one officer in the leg. Three officers responded with 32 shots, six of which struck and killed Ms Taylor. She was hit in her hallway by bullets from two officers, but neither was charged after prosecutors said they were justified in returning fire. It later emerged police were actually searching for an ex-partner of Ms Taylor - an alleged drug dealer - who did not live at the address. Her death, along with other killings of black people in 2020 including and Ahmaud Arbery, sparked protests around the US and the world. On Monday, Hankison, 49, was sentenced to 33 months with three years of supervised probation. He won't be locked up immediately and it will be for the US Bureau of Prisons to decide when and where he will be imprisoned. A statement from Ms Taylor's family said: "While today's sentence is not what we had hoped for - nor does it fully reflect the severity of the harm caused - it is more than what the Department of Justice sought. That, in itself, is a statement." Three other former police officers who weren't at the scene have been charged with crafting a falsified warrant but have not gone to trial.
Sky News
22-07-2025
- Sky News
Former Kentucky police officer Brett Hankison sentenced to three years in prison over Breonna Taylor death
A former Kentucky police officer has been sentenced to nearly three years in prison for using excessive force during the botched drugs raid that killed Breonna Taylor. Brett Hankison's 10 shots did not hit anyone - but he is the only person at the scene charged over her death in 2020. The sentence comes despite the US Department of Justice recommending he should not be locked up. District judge Rebecca Grady Jennings disagreed, arguing that not imprisoning him would minimise the jury's verdict. She said she was "startled" people weren't hurt by his excessive shooting. Hankison's shots narrowly missed a neighbouring family after they pierced the walls of Ms Taylor's apartment. Ms Taylor, 26, was killed in March 2020 when Louisville officers carried out a "no-knock" warrant and broke down her door. Her boyfriend thought it was someone breaking in and fired a single shot in self-defence, hitting one officer in the leg. Three officers responded with 32 shots, six of which struck and killed Ms Taylor. She was hit in her hallway by bullets from two officers, but neither was charged after prosecutors said they were justified in returning fire. 0:43 It later emerged police were actually searching for an ex-partner of Ms Taylor - an alleged drug dealer - who did not live at the address. Her death, along with other killings of black people in 2020 including George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery, sparked protests around the US and the world. 2:27 On Monday, Hankison, 49, was sentenced to 33 months with three years of supervised probation. He won't be locked up immediately and it will be for the US Bureau of Prisons to decide when and where he will be imprisoned. A statement from Ms Taylor's family said: "While today's sentence is not what we had hoped for - nor does it fully reflect the severity of the harm caused - it is more than what the Department of Justice sought. That, in itself, is a statement." Three other former police officers who weren't at the scene have been charged with crafting a falsified warrant but have not gone to trial.
Daily Mail
21-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Former soldier, 31, who was shot dead while holding a phone police thought was a gun was 'lawfully' killed, jury rules: Officer may now face gross misconduct hearing
A former soldier who was shot dead by police during a drugs raid was killed lawfully, a jury has ruled. Sean Fitzgerald, 31, died from a single gunshot wound to his chest after leaving a property in Coventry at around 6.20pm on January 4, 2019. West Midlands Police were investigating the activities of a suspected organised crime gang in Burnaby Road, an inquest at Coventry Coroner's Court heard. A jury in the six-week inquest was asked to consider whether Mr Fitzgerald had been lawfully or unlawfully killed by the officer who fired the fatal shot. The officer, who was given anonymity and referred to only as Officer K, told the inquest he had been standing in the back garden of the property when he saw a curtain move. He said he spotted a man holding a black object that he thought was a gun but it turned out to be a mobile phone, the BBC reported. The jury concluded on Wednesday that Mr Fitzgerald was lawfully killed. However, Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) director Derrick Campbell said West Midlands Police had been directed to hold misconduct proceedings. Mr Fitzgerald's family, who were represented by the Inquest Lawyers' Group, had expressed disappointment at the length of time it took the IOPC to conclude their own investigation into the actions of the police force. Mr Campbell said their investigation was 'complex' and took 'far longer than expected'. In a statement, he said: 'Our investigation, which concluded in December 2023, examined not only the shooting itself, but the wider circumstances, including the intelligence and decision making in the planning of the operation. 'Having considered all the evidence, a range of expert opinion and applying the legal thresholds which govern our work, we concluded there was sufficient evidence to indicate that the officer who fired the fatal shot may have breached the police professional standards regarding his use of force and therefore had a case to answer for gross misconduct. 'West Midlands Police were directed to hold a misconduct hearing, although it was agreed that should not be progressed until after the conclusion of the inquest proceedings. 'We determined the evidence did not meet the threshold for a referral to the Crown Prosecution Service to consider whether the same officer should face a criminal charge in relation to the shooting. 'This was a complex investigation and we recognise our inquiries took far longer than expected. 'We understand the impact this has had on everyone concerned and will carefully review, as soon as possible, whether any of the additional evidence heard at the inquest impacts on our previous decision making.' West Midlands Police Assistant Chief Constable Damian Barratt said the force offered its 'sincere condolences' to the family of Mr Fitzgerald. He said: 'We note the points raised within the findings and will ensure that these are fully considered in order to identify any learning in future operations. 'Armed policing is complex and challenging and our firearms officers put themselves in harm's way to protect the public on a daily basis, and undergo continuous rigorous training to ensure they are suitably equipped for such a vital and demanding role.'
BBC News
21-05-2025
- BBC News
Man shot by police in Coventry killed lawfully
A man shot dead by police during a drugs raid was killed lawfully, a jury has concluded. Sean Fitzgerald, 31, was killed on 4 January 2019 in Burnaby Road, Coventry, where West Midlands Police officers were investigating the activities of a suspected organised crime officer who fired the fatal shot - Officer K - told Coventry Coroner's Court he had been standing in the property's back garden when he saw a curtain move and a black object being Fitzgerald, who was unarmed, died from a single gunshot wound to the chest after exiting the property at about 18:20 GMT. This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest can receive Breaking News on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on X to get the latest alerts.
