Correction: A previous version of this story attributed information to the incorrect defense attorney, William Stewart Mathews. It was actually Jack Byrd. The error has been corrected. (11/3/2023)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Attorneys in the federal trial of former Louisville police detective Brett Hankison began their opening statements.

The trial began earlier this week. Attorneys have been questioning potential jurors since Monday and finished selecting a jury Thursday morning.

A neighbor of Breonna Taylor took the stand today in the federal trial of Brett Hankison, who was involved in the raid in which police shot and killed Taylor.

She says bullets flew through the walls of her apartment. She was terrified and shielded her young son.

Chelsey Napper testified she was pregnant and at home with her son and boyfriend when she heard what sounded like a bomb going off.

She says she patted her young son to make sure he was still alive and covered him as bullets flew through her apartment.

Napper was the first witness in the federal trial of Hankison.

Hankison is charged with civil rights violations against Breonna Taylor, her boyfriend Kenneth Walker, and her neighbors.  Hankison was acquitted last year in a state wanton endangerment trial. 

In opening statements, prosecutor Anna Gotfryd said that once the shooting at the doorway of Taylor’s home was over, Hankison fired his gun blindly 10 times into Taylor’s apartment, even though it was impossible to see who was inside. And that his actions endangered lives and were sickening and unthinkable to other officers.

Gotfryd said Hankison was described as bouncing up and down with excitement after firing the shots.

Defense attorney Jack Byrd said they will show that Hankison’s actions were an attempt to save his fellow officers. None of his rounds hit anyone, and he wasn’t the last to fire. Byrd said it was a tragedy that Taylor was killed.

According to the prosecution, the jury will hear from former detective Myles Cosgrove.