FBI returns to south Louisville apartment where Breonna Taylor was shot and killed by police

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- On Friday morning, federal agents returned to the south Louisville apartment where Breonna Taylor was shot and killed by Louisville Metro Police officers in March.

An FBI vehicle was parked outside the apartment off St. Anthony Church Road, and a blue tent was set up for investigators. The FBI's Louisville Field Office released a statement on Twitter saying it's conducting an investigation into Taylor's death.

"FBI Louisville is conducting judicially authorized activity at 3003 Springfield Drive, Apt, 4, Louisville, KY. As we have stated before, FBI Louisville is conducting an independent investigation into all aspects of the death of Breonna Taylor. When investigating potential civil rights violations, the FBI will take a fresh look at all the evidence, including interviewing witnesses who have already spoken to the original investigating agency, interviewing witnesses who have not yet spoken to law enforcement, and examining all physical and video evidence to better understand what transpired. Today’s action is part of this process."

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— FBI Louisville (@FBILouisville) June 19, 2020

The FBI is looking at the use of force in the Taylor case, as well as investigating any other possible civil rights violations.

WDRB News spoke with many neighbors who live at the complex on Friday afternoon. All of them said they were glad to see the FBI was taking another look at the case.

"At the end of the day, that's somebody's life ... so I feel like everything should be looked into," said one neighbor, who did want to be identified.

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer on Friday announced that acting LMPD Chief Robert Schroeder is "initiating termination procedures" against Detective Brett Hankison, one of the three LMPD officers involved in the March 13 raid on Taylor's apartment. Schroeder said Hankison violated department policies on using deadly force and failed to follow internal rules during the incident.

In a termination letter dated Friday, Schroeder told Hankison that the detective's conduct during the raid on Taylor's apartment was "a shock to the conscience."

Hankison, Detective Myles Cosgrove and Sgt. John Mattingly shot and killed Taylor, an emergency room tech and former EMT, while executing a search warrant at the Springfield Drive apartment. The fatal shooting of Taylor, a Black woman, has drawn national scrutiny and calls for an independent probe.

Taylor's boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, fired at officers when they rushed in, hitting Mattingly in the leg. Walker has told police that he thought he and Taylor were being robbed. Walker initially was charged with attempted murder, but the charge has been dismissed.

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