On March 13, 2020, at around midnight, police conducted a search warrant at the Kentucky home of 26-year-old Breonna Taylor. As police entered, gunfire was nearly immediately exchanged between officers and Taylor’s boyfriend, Kenneth Walker. Walker states they believed intruders were attempting to enter the home, and with this, Breonna was fatally shot.
This case became a social media phenomenon due to its complicated core of a police-involved shooting, and understanding what makes the reciprocation of gunfire appropriate.
Police detective Brett Hankinson was charged in connection with the incident, but not with Taylor’s death. Hankinson was initially charged with shots that had been fired into the neighboring apartment, with none of his bullets directly striking Breonna Taylor. He was later federally prosecuted, however, for violations of constitutional rights that related to the use of force presented on March 13, and allegedly presenting a danger to the neighboring apartment.
The team was tasked with assessing the shot trajectory and analyzing the timing and positioning of each shot fired throughout the dispute.
There were no criminal charges present in connection with the death of Breonna Taylor. Hankinson was, however, found guilty of a violation of rights through excessive force and was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison. As of December 2025. He has been granted release during his appeal after serving 11 months.