LOUISVILLE, Ky. — U.S. prosecutors called their last witness in the federal retrial of a former Louisville Metro Police officer, Brett Hankison, who was involved in the police raid that killed Breonna Taylor.

What You Need To Know

  •  Prosecutors questioned a final witness on day four of Brett Hankison's retrial

  •  Sgt. Brandon Hogan with Louisville Metro SWAT testified 

  •  Hankison's defense team will begin questioning witnesses Thursday afternoon

Hankison is on trial for violating the civil rights of Taylor and others when he opened fire on Taylor’s home, shooting through windows and a patio door. Hankison’s gunfire did not hit Taylor or any other person. 

Prosecutors called Sgt. Brandon Hogan to the stand Thursday. Hogan was a member of the Louisville SWAT team at the time of the raid and responded to Taylor’s apartment after the fatal shooting by Louisville police.

Hogan testified while surveying Taylor’s apartment from the outside he could not see through the window or patio door.

The prosecution asked Hogan based on his training, if would he have shot through covered windows if he thought there was a threat inside. Hogan responded, “No. If there was a threat in there. I could not see the threat.”

With the knowledge Hankison had shot into Taylor’s home, Hogan testified, “I didn’t see how we could shoot outside in if we couldn’t see anything.” 

In court, the prosecution played Hogan’s body camera video from inside Taylor’s apartment. It showed SWAT members clearing the apartment. Hogan testified he could not see any light coming from outside the apartment, even as SWAT members were shining bright lights on the home. Hogan’s body camera video showed a television in Taylor’s bedroom was playing a video with sound on. 

Hogan’s testimony comes a day after Dale Massey took the stand. Massey was the SWAT commander at the time of the raid and also responded to the scene after the shooting. Massey testified he was “shocked” and in “disbelief,” when he realized Hankison shot into Taylor’s apartment through covered windows and patio door.

Massey said, “Just because you’re being shot at doesn’t give you carte blanche to shoot back.” 

During Hogan’s cross examination, defense attorney Jack Byrd asked, “You don’t know what Brett Hankison perceived that night?” Hogan answered, “Correct.”

U.S. Prosecutor Michael Stonger rested their case Thursday morning.

Hankison’s defense team will begin calling witnesses Thursday afternoon.

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