Breonna Taylor death: Former Kentucky police officer faces retrial

While Taylor, a 26-year-old nursing student, and her boyfriend Kenneth Walker, slept at her apartment in the early morning hours, officers wearing plain clothes executed a “no-knock” search warrant.

Authorities believed Taylor’s ex-boyfriend was using her home to hide narcotics.

Walker fired a single shot when officers knocked down the door because he said they did not announce themselves as police, and he thought they were intruders.

Another officer fired the shot that killed Taylor, but prosecutors said his use of deadly force was justified because Mr Walker had opened fire first, hitting a colleague of Mr Hankison.

During the altercation, Mr Hankison fired 10 rounds through Taylor’s window and sliding glass door. The bullets did not hit anyone, but entered the neighbouring property.

A subsequent police report contained errors, including listing Taylor’s injuries as “none” and saying no force was used to enter, when a battering ram had been used.

Taylor’s name was widely circulated during the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests against police brutality.