LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A jury found former Louisville Metro Police Detective Brett Hankison guilty Friday night of violating Breonna Taylor's civil rights for his part in a raid on her home in 2020 that lead to her death.
The jury found Hankison not guilty of civil rights violations involving Taylor’s neighbors.
Protests sparked across the country after Taylor was shot and killed by Louisville Metro Police during the early morning hours of March 13, 2020, as they attempted to execute a “no-knock” warrant on her apartment.
“I was definitely a protester in 2020, yelling at police, yelling at buildings, outraged very much," said Dynasty Davidson, Louisville Urban League community organizer. "But I feel like we had a right."
Davidson said she moved from protest to policy, becoming the community organizer for the Louisville Urban League. But she said she is still fighting for the same things: equality and collective justice.
“This fight was Breonna’s fight, but this fight is so much bigger than Breonna," she said. "Just justice for all of my people, equality for all of my people."
Davidson was outside the courthouse Friday night waiting to greet Taylor’s family as the jury returned its verdict.
“To be able to be so closely tight-knit with the family and to be able to celebrate with them after experiencing their hurt and their pain and their sorrow, it was amazing,” Davidson said.
The Louisville Urban League said more work needs to be done in improving community policing.
“The big picture here is, how do we continue to transform what policing is, how do we continue to transform this system of so-called justice that we have that so often is violating the rights and opportunities of impacted communities?” said Lyndon Pryor, Louisville Urban League president and CEO.
Mayor Craig Greenberg, D-Louisville, took to social media Saturday morning reacting to the verdict.
“I am hopeful this verdict brings some peace to the family of Breonna Taylor and our entire community," Greenberg wrote on X (formerly Twitter). "We still have work ahead, but progress is being made every day to improve public trust and unite our city. I am committed to that work so that we have a safer, stronger, and healthier Louisville for everyone."
Davidson said so much positive change has come from Taylor’s death.
“I will never forget Nov. 1, 2024, the same way I’ll never forget May 28, 2020,” Davidson said.
Hankison is released on bond, and his sentencing will be March 12, 2025. His conviction carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Spectrum News 1 reached out to the River City Fraternal Order of Police for comment on this story.