Officer Brett Hankison is the Only Policeman Who Didn’t Shoot Breonna Taylor… So Why is He Going to Jail?

Summary

Podcast Summary: Amy Robach & T.J. Holmes Present Episode Title: Officer Brett Hankison is the Only Policeman Who Didn’t Shoot Breonna Taylor… So Why is He Going to Jail? Release Date: July 22, 2025 Host/Author: iHeartPodcasts

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I. Introduction

In this poignant episode of Amy Robach & T.J. Holmes Present, hosted by Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes, the hosts delve deep into the controversial and emotionally charged case of Breonna Taylor. Released on July 22, 2025, the episode seeks to unravel the complexities surrounding the conviction of Officer Brett Hakinson—the sole officer charged in Taylor's tragic death—and the broader implications for justice and accountability within law enforcement.

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II. Overview of the Breonna Taylor Case

Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old woman, was fatally shot on March 13, 2020, in her own apartment in Louisville during a police raid executed with a no-knock warrant. The incident sparked nationwide protests and intensified discussions about police brutality and systemic racism in policing.

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III. Officer Brett Hakinson's Conviction

Five years after the incident, Officer Brett Hakinson became the only member of the three-officer team involved in Breonna Taylor's shooting to face criminal charges. Notably, Hakinson's bullets did not strike Taylor, raising questions about the legal rationale behind his conviction and sentencing.

T.J. Holmes remarked at [04:41]:
"He is the only officer charged in her shooting death, and he's the only one of the three officers whose bullets didn't hit Breonna Taylor."

Hakinson was sentenced to 33 months in prison, a decision that has left the community and Taylor’s family grappling with mixed emotions about the adequacy of justice served.

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IV. Discrepancy in Charging the Other Officers

Despite multiple officers present during the raid, only Hakinson faced charges. The other two officers who discharged their firearms into Taylor's body were not charged with any crimes.

Ryan Seacrest highlighted at [05:27]:
"He was the only one of the three officers who fired their weapons that night whose bullets didn't hit Breonna Taylor. The two men whose bullets hit Breonna Taylor and the one man's who actually was the fatal shot. Neither one of them were even charged."

This selective charging has fueled debates about systemic biases and the challenges in prosecuting law enforcement officers.

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V. Legal and DOJ Involvement

The legal proceedings surrounding Hakinson's case were influenced by a significant shift in the Department of Justice (DOJ). Initially prosecuted under the Biden administration, the case saw a dramatic change when the Trump administration took over, altering the prosecutorial stance.

Ryan Seacrest explained at [07:33]:
"The Department of Justice, the Trump DOJ, asked for one day. It seems defensive."

Under the Trump DOJ, prosecutors recommended a one-day sentence, a stark contrast to what could have been a life sentence for the charges brought against Hakinson.

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VI. Judge's Decision and Reaction

Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings played a pivotal role by rejecting the DOJ's minimal sentencing recommendation. Instead, she imposed a sentence of 33 months, emphasizing the gravity of Hakinson's actions despite his bullets missing Taylor.

TJ Holmes commented at [08:47]:
"The prosecution is asking for one day. The defense was asking for zero days. So they were basically on the same side. That's what it felt like to Breonna."

Despite the sentence being an improvement over the DOJ's recommendation, it remains significantly lower than the maximum penalty, leaving many feeling that true accountability was not achieved.

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VII. Reactions from Breonna Taylor's Family

Breonna Taylor's mother expressed profound disappointment with the initial sentencing recommendation, feeling it was an "insulting and offensive" acknowledgment of her daughter's death.

At [09:21], TJ Holmes relayed her sentiments:
"She almost was suggesting it was incomprehensible. It didn't make sense, the argument that you all were making for the one day."

The family found solace in the judge's decision to impose a longer sentence, though it still fell short of complete justice.

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VIII. Potential Presidential Intervention

The episode discusses the possibility of former President Trump intervening to commute Hakinson's sentence, especially given the DOJ's alignment with minimal sentencing.

Ryan Seacrest speculated at [24:14]:
"There is someone who is the head of the federal government who could commute his sentence, who can pardon him, who can make sure he doesn't spend a day in jail. That's President Trump."

TJ Holmes added at [25:03]:
"I mean, the Trump administration is pushing for one day... So would we be surprised?"

Such a move could reignite public outcry and further erode trust in the justice system.

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IX. Involvement of Other Officers in Cover-Up

Beyond Hakinson, three other officers faced charges unrelated to the shooting itself but connected to a cover-up effort. These officers were charged with falsifying documents and conspiracy to obstruct justice.

Ryan Seacrest detailed at [29:18]:
"There are two other people, Joshua Janes and Kyle Meaney, and they are charged... for falsifying records and conspiring to cover it up after the fact and lying to federal investigators."

This aspect underscores attempts to mask the true nature of the raid and protect involved officers.

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X. Reflections on Justice and Systemic Issues

Robach and Holmes reflected on the broader implications of the case, highlighting the systemic failures that allow such discrepancies in justice. They emphasized the community's need for trust and the devastating impact of perceived injustices.

TJ Holmes stated at [30:47]:
"You want to trust in the system. You have to. It doesn't work if we don't trust in some way. But there... Sometimes it feels like it fails us greatly."

The conversation underscored the emotional and societal toll of the case, urging listeners to consider the deeper issues at play.

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XI. Conclusion

The episode concludes on a somber note, acknowledging that while Hakinson's conviction marks a moment of accountability, the overarching questions about justice, systemic bias, and true accountability in law enforcement remain unresolved. The hosts vowed to continue monitoring the situation for any future developments.

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XII. Final Thoughts and Thank You

Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes thanked listeners for engaging with this critical discussion, reiterating the importance of holding justice systems accountable and advocating for meaningful reforms.

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Notable Quotes:

• TJ Holmes [04:41]:
  "He is the only officer charged in her shooting death, and he's the only one of the three officers whose bullets didn't hit Breonna Taylor."

• Ryan Seacrest [07:33]:
  "The Department of Justice, the Trump DOJ, asked for one day. It seems defensive."

• TJ Holmes [08:47]:
  "The prosecution is asking for one day. The defense was asking for zero days. So they were basically on the same side. That's what it felt like to Breonna."

• TJ Holmes [09:21]:
  "She almost was suggesting it was incomprehensible. It didn't make sense, the argument that you all were making for the one day."

• TJ Holmes [30:47]:
  "You want to trust in the system. You have to. It doesn't work if we don't trust in some way. But there... Sometimes it feels like it fails us greatly."

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This comprehensive summary encapsulates the essential discussions and emotional nuances of the podcast episode, providing listeners with a clear understanding of the complexities surrounding the Breonna Taylor case and its implications for justice and societal trust.

Transcript

[Ryan Seacrest]

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[Amy Robach]

I'm Rodney Williams. And I'm Travis Holloway. Welcome to the Wealth Break. Let's be honest. Building wealth doesn't look the same for everyone. It's not just about saving. It's about investing. It's about navigating systems that weren't built for you, embracing your hustle, and relying on your community to create something bigger. And that's exactly why we created the Wealth Break. We made something different, something more human. It's not just another financial podcast. It's a conversation about real life, real struggles, and real wins. We're here to talk about the journey. You're hearing from people who've broken barriers, found creative ways to succeed, and learn to build wealth on their terms. Whether it's the first time homeowner, a gig worker, or someone turning a side hustle into a six figure business, we're bringing you their stories. And we're not stopping at success stories. We're breaking down the realities, like what it means to take risk, how to navigate failure, and why resilience matters. Because wealth isn't about money. It's about creating a life where you can thrive and help others to do the same. So if you're ready for a podcast as much as about people as it is about money, you're in the right place. Listen to the Wealth Break podcast on the iHeartRadio app.

[TJ Holmes]

Hey there, folks. It's July 22nd, 2025. Breonna Taylor was killed March 13th of 2020. And today, five years later, one of the three officers who shot at her that night was sentenced to jail time. He is the only officer charged in her shooting death, and he's the only one of the three officers whose bullets did not hit Breonna Taylor. Welcome, everybody, to Amy and TJ Robes. We are doing this episode, yes, because this is timely, but also in part because of a conversation that was not naturally sparked between the two of us. And it's kind of. You kind of had a wait, what the hell? Moment.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Yeah, I mean, look, we cover and we've covered crime stories for decades now, and this one is a head scratcher. And you really do kind of have to read between the lines and do a little research to figure out what the hell is going on. So the man, Brett Hakinson, was charged, this former police officer, in the shooting death of Breonna Taylor, and he was sentenced to 33 months in prison. Correct. So just shy of three years. But he was the only one of the three officers who fired their weapons that night whose bullets didn't hit Breonna Taylor. The two men whose bullets hit Breonna Taylor and the one man's who actually was the fatal shot. Neither one of them were even charged.

[TJ Holmes]

So, yeah, it's not even a matter of a not guilty verdict. They did not even matter of a mistrial. Hung jury. No. No charges.

[Ryan Seacrest]

No charges. And so you have to think, why? How is that possible? And you have to go back to how the story started and the reason why these other two officers weren't charged.

[TJ Holmes]

And there was an uproar at the time when the charges weren't brought against some of the other officers. But we're here now because, folks, we sit here five years later, and for the first time, someone is being held accountable, at least with prison time for the death of Breonna Taylor. Now we go back to 2020. That was a different time. Now she actually died. Was that two, three months before? Two months before.

[Ryan Seacrest]

George Floyd.

[TJ Holmes]

George Floyd, yes. So there were protests and there were an uproar. And you know what? You actually said this. You said the first thing that came to mind was the hashtag, say her name.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Breonna Taylor. Say her name. And there was, yes, a huge uproar. People were upset that this 26 year old innocent woman sleeping in her own bed, in her own apartment is killed by police officers who rush into her apartment without announcing themselves. And the two men who fired bullets into her body and killed her were not even charged. How do you explain this?

[TJ Holmes]

Right, they explain it legally. So Brett Hakinson to catch everybody up here. And you all probably saw the headlines today that he was sentenced to 33 months in jail. Former Louisville police officer now rose. Before the headline came about him being sentenced, there was another headline about what the government was even asking for. So the government that prosecuted this man gave a sentencing recommendation. Now, usually the way this goes, in whatever case, criminal case you deal with, the prosecutors want as much jail time as possible. The defense wants as little as possible. And this was not the case.

[Ryan Seacrest]

No. And let's point this out, that when the prosecution, because this was a federal case, so we're talking about the Department of Justice, those were the prosecutors. The Department of Justice at one point during this case was run by the Biden administration. But when we got to sentencing, now the Department of Justice is run by the Trump administration. So the Trump Department of Justice basically did an about face. I think the judge called it a 180 from what they had said under the Biden administration. But suddenly now they're asking for one day. The maximum for this penalty that Hakinson was convicted of could be life in prison. So there was a large range of time that he could have spent behind bars. And the Department of Justice, the Trump doj, asked for one day, seem defensive.

[TJ Holmes]

A little bit, just say no jail time. But they were. The point they were trying to make is that he spent a day in jail during his. When he was first arrested, when he was first booked, he spent a day in jail. So they're just evening things out is essentially time served. He wouldn't go back into jail for a day. But it's just the optics of it. It felt, it felt like an intentional insult.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Yes. And it almost seemed like they wanted to give him credit. You know, they say credit for time served. They almost kind of wanted to give him credit for the time he served. It was kind of a double punch. But yes, Breonna Taylor's mom said as much. She said it was insulting and offensive that someone finally might be held accountable for what happened to her daughter, her very innocent daughter. And even when he was convicted, the prosecution is asking for one day. The defense was asking for zero days. So they were basically on the same side. That's what it felt like to Breonna.

[TJ Holmes]

Taylor's mother, to the judge's credit, I don't have her name in front of me. It's a lady. But yes, the sentencing today and comes out that he is going to get 33 months, like you said, two years plus in jail. She actually commented on the prosecution's case. She incongruous was what is the word she used? She essentially said it is absolutely inappropriate to suggest that this man should not spend any time in jail. She said it. She almost was suggesting it was incomprehensible. It didn't make sense, the argument that you all were making for the one day.

[Ryan Seacrest]

No, it made no sense at all. And she just felt like it was, it was a slap in the face. It truly was. And so there was some relief when finally there was a decision by this judge to say, no, I'm not going to do the one day. I'm going to give two years and nine months or whatever it ended up being. And look, it wasn't exactly what Taylor's parent or Taylor's family wanted, but it was something. And it was better than one day. And it was certainly better than nothing. And at one point they thought that he might be going free without any other punishment.

[TJ Holmes]

And they said as much today, came out, made their statements and you could tell that they weren't necessarily celebrating, but they knew they were preparing themselves for him not to do any time in jail. So at least they accepted that. Now the thing we were. And a lot of people, and I remember covering this story a lot when it first went down, people couldn't understand. Why is it that three people showed up that night? And again, the incident in 2020, they show up to serve a no knock warrant at this house. Brianna Taylor and her boyfriend are sleeping inside at the time. Now it's. You got different reports about whether or not they announced themselves or not. Neighbors say they heard one thing, other folks say they didn't hear anything. But no knock warrant. And Breonna Taylor's boyfriend fires a shot. I mean he has a weapon that he is registered, licensed to have. And he fired at the officers, hitting one of them. They returned fire. Two officers returned fire from a particular position. And then a third officer, Hankinson we're talking about, fired into the home, but blindly. He fired into a window that had blinds. He couldn't see what he was shooting at.

[Ryan Seacrest]

And that is against police standard operating procedures. You have to be able to see who you are shooting at. That is clear as day. What ended up happening is those 10 bullets he fired into a window with blinds. One or two or few of those bullets went into another apartment where a pregnant woman, her five year old son and her boyfriend were all sleeping. They were not hit, thankfully. But the judge pointed out you were just lucky. I mean you were just lucky that no one else was injured, but he threatened other people's lives. The actual count that he was charged with and convicted of was violating Breonna Taylor's civil rights by using excessive force in discharging those 10 shots through her window that ended up going into another apartment as well.

[TJ Holmes]

You know you, I do deep dives on some of these things. It's a fourth amendment issue. She has the right against illegal or excess excessive search and seizure by firing that many bullets into the home. The legal argument is that that was excessive force that went beyond what is normal search and seizure. And that was the fourth amendment violation. Now he was also charged with something else because the bullets missed her, that he was charged with endangerment. He got off on state charges of endangerment. The federal charges tried to mention those things, but he got off on that.

[Ryan Seacrest]

He's a hung jury.

[TJ Holmes]

He was a hunger on that count. So the only thing he was charged with was, was this one thing. So what we are saying, robes, like there's some legalities to get into there. But this is the fact. The only officer charged in the shooting death of Breonna Taylor is the officer who missed her. That is tough to stomach at times for a lot of people.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Well, if you are Breonna Taylor's mom, if you are someone who loved and knew Breonna Taylor. Yeah, that's gonna piss you off. The two men who actually did put bullets into their loved one. Again, she was sleeping. Those two men, those two police officers weren't charged, aren't going to jail and are living their lives. And the reason is because they said Brianna Taylor's boyfriend fired those shots. He did say very. And this is understandable. He said he thought they were intruders. He thought someone was breaking into their home. The police officers didn't have to announce who they were. So yeah, someone's breaking into your home. You have a weapon, you're sleeping as well. You might be disoriented. Almost certainly you are. But you're. You go into fight or flight. Right. So he went into fight mode and he fired a shot. And because he fired a shot at those officers, the officers who then returned fire were within their rights as police officers to do so. It just so happened those bullets went into Brianna Taylor.

[TJ Holmes]

Unfortunately, it's just a. This is a wild, wild scenario. I mean, it led to all kinds of reforms at the Louisville Police Department. What was it, $12 million that her family got from Louisville.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Yes.

[TJ Holmes]

Police department as well. Oh, the city there. So people admitted fault. This is just. This was one of those things that's hard to stomach to understand that five years later dozens of bullets or shots were fired.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Yes.

[TJ Holmes]

And the only person who missed her is the one that is being punished. The one that is getting jail time. However, folks, I know one officer we've been talking about did, did receive a sentence, is supposed to be going to prison. But already people are talking about one person who gets step in right now and with the stroke of a pen, keep this officer from ever setting foot in prison.

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[Ryan Seacrest]

Welcome back everyone to this edition of Amy and tj. We are talking about the Breonna Taylor case and it's confusing from a criminal and legal standpoint. But yes, the only person right now who has been convicted among those three police officers who fired bullets is the one officer whose bullets never even hit Breonna Taylor. And so yes, he was sentenced to 33 months behind bars, but only because the judge in the case went against the prosecutors went against the defense recommendations they each put in their sentencing recommendations the prosecution said were good with one day. Obviously the defense didn't want their client to go to prison for any days. And essentially the prosecution was saying we'll just give him credit for time served so he wouldn't have actually been going to prison at all. But the Judge in this case, Rebecca Grady Jennings is her name. So Judge Jennings decided that she wasn't going to do that. She decided to take issue and she pointed out that this isn't, this wasn't expected and she was disappointed by the DOJ's recommendation of just one day. So she settled on 33 months. But that even is far less than what the maximum penalty could have been. Hakinson could have been sentenced to life in prison with the charge he was convicted of. So she went with 33 months better than one day or zero days. But certainly doesn't feel like justice.

[TJ Holmes]

She said she kind of got on to them for being inappropriate in act asking for one day. She kind of went a little farther in saying kind of your argument is incomprehensible and almost called it. I'm using the word silly here. But to suggest that that his actions were inconsequential I think is how they put it. There was a suggest by saying one day it's as if what he did didn't matter just because he had blind luck in not hitting somebody and killing somebody in the next apartment. So I mean the judge I was interested in her some of the comments but but yeah, she completely rejected this idea of one day.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Yeah. And she called them out and said this is a 180 from what we heard before and again we pointed out before we went to break that two different administrations were leading the Department of Justice throughout this process. The 180 might have been politically motivated in the sense that they just had different agendas or different perceptions of what was fair and what was just. And so yes, it was a complete about face. So the judge called them out on that and said this isn't appropriate and made the decision she made. And you know, the Taylor family said that they were grateful to the judge for giving some time because they really were preparing themselves to walk away with nothing because that's when you hear the prosecution is recommending nothing. Essentially they were preparing themselves for that. So they said they're disappointed but they're grateful. And that that makes a lot of sense.

[TJ Holmes]

But already, and this is key folks, Brett Hankison did deal with state charges, all those state cases, those are over now what he just dealt with now that he's been convicted of, again not convicted on any state charges, but convicted now of federal charges. And robes is very key that this is a federal case because there is someone in the federal government who could bail him out. And this is already being talked about.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Correct. And we should make it very clear here that Brett Hakisson, the former police officer who has been convicted and has been sentenced now to 33 months behind bars, is not behind bars right now. He is free. He's likely home with his family, but his attorneys have filed for an appeal. And while they're waiting for that appeal, he is going to remain out on bond, so to speak, before he serves his sentencing time. But a lot of folks are wondering if he's even going to even need to move forward with the appeal or even worry about heading to jail to serve that time. Because there is someone who is the head of the federal government who can commute his sentence, who can pardon him, who can make sure he doesn't spend a day in jail. That's President Trump.

[TJ Holmes]

I mean, I guess he could commute it. I mean, he could simply commute it or do time served or cut it down and not vacate the conviction, not clear his record. That's an option as well. But it's the White House, it's the Trump administration that was pushing for him to have one day. It was the Trump administration who actually said he is not a threat to the community. Is the Trump administration who filed officially paperwork saying that this man, what is it they said? Never in the history of the world or something that has there ever been someone who has been sentenced to time in jail for firing a weapon in defense and not hitting anybody. I mean, they, they, yes, argued. I mean, they were literally on his side in terms of his prison sentence. So would we be surprised?

[Ryan Seacrest]

It's reasonable to believe that if that is what the Department of Justice was arguing for, a basically a zero day sentence, one day sentence, that that would be the same line of thinking that would cause someone like President Trump to say, hey, well, I don't like. And you know, he doesn't like judges making decisions, which is funny, but he really has an issue with a lot of judges. And so for him, he may say, hey, a judge shouldn't go beyond what a prosecutor is asking. You should respect where the Department of Justice was on this case and you went outside of what the DOJ was asking. And so that could be. Not that he needs a reason to do what he does or to make the decisions he does, but you could see where his mind and his reasoning might go to that place.

[TJ Holmes]

If I was a betting man, you just would have convince me to go with Trump is probably going to.

[Ryan Seacrest]

And what's that going to do? What's that reaction going to be? What's going to happen then? I mean, say her name, Hashtag say her name. And I haven't heard that in a while. Obviously it was five years ago when this all was going on. But what do we see if that were to happen, what would the reaction be?

[TJ Holmes]

It's going to be a bigger uproar if he does it that way instead of the Department of Justice doing it the way they were trying to do it, which was simply saying, we are not pushing for a jail sentence. If he would have just gone home, I think that it would have been, that would have been a little quieter. But if the president, after a judge says this man should stay in prison for two and a half plus years for his actions on the night that led to the death of Brianna Taylor, say her name, innocent woman, and Trump is going to say, you know what? Nope, he shouldn't be punished at all for his role in her death. That reads different from the doj. Just saying one day in prison, that is going to be a if, if, if. That's a big, big if.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Well, and here's another part of this situation. The New York Times had something very interesting talking about that the Department of Justice made this request for credit for time served in the same vein and the same efforts to abandon addressing racial disparities in policing. This has been a theme obviously with the second term for the Trump administration doing away with die policies, not wanting to point out dei. I always say that D e I always say that is dei. But it's this, this same agenda that President Trump has had about the culture war agenda, the wokeness, like the diversity, like we're not going to talk about black versus white, a white officer and a black victim. So they may say this is all a part of that as well. They're trying to stop this race based prosecution or what. This is what part of their reasoning was for asking for one day, just one day.

[TJ Holmes]

This is, you know, what I didn't realize and we should mention, I don't think we have. There are three other officers involved in this case who were not on scene that night. Robes that were, I guess, essentially charged for their behavior afterwards, we're essentially talking about obstruction, conspiracy and we're talking about trying to forge some paperwork and lie.

[Ryan Seacrest]

It's really crazy because again, the two officers who actually fired the fatal bullets into Breonna Taylor, no charges, no trials, no convictions, no nothing. But all these folks, there are three people who are being charged and two of them weren't even on the scene. So one former officer named Kelly Goodlett, she pleaded guilty, by the way. She's going to be sentenced in February for a federal conspiracy charge because she did something with the paperwork and the actual paperwork. Yeah, paperwork. But yes, she falsified documents after the fact about this. No knock warrant. Now, there are two other people, Joshua Janes and Kyle Meaney, and they are charged. These are other Louisville Metro Police officers. They are charged for, again, falsifying records and conspiring to cover it up after the fact and lying to federal investigators. So it was all about a cover up, but it had nothing to do. Conspiracy with the actual act of killing Breonna Taylor.

[TJ Holmes]

So, yes, four. Four officers.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Yes, in total. You're right. Four officers.

[TJ Holmes]

So six officers involved, four facing charges. The two who shot her are the only two that never face charges. And three over paperwork. Lies.

[Ryan Seacrest]

It makes your blood boil a little, doesn't it?

[TJ Holmes]

I mean, you want to trust in the system. You have to. We just have to. It doesn't work if we don't trust in some way. But there. And some it. Sometimes it feels like it fails us greatly. And this is one you can certainly understand why. Breonna Taylor, whose family is. Are they still seeking justice? What more can you do after this? You know? So I don't know if finally some closure, some finality to it with this. I don't know. But it might not be over because they might see a headline in a few days or a post on Truth Social that says Brett Hankinson is never going to prison.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Wow. And I, I can't imagine what that could set off in terms of just that anger is right there. I mean, it's. It's there just for what the outcome is as it is. But to have that go a step further is even tougher. And obviously there's so much conversations about no knock warrants and whether or not that's even legal, to not announce yourself, that's another unthinkable situation. I can't even imagine putting myself in someone's shoes where you're in a home and people are busting in and yelling and you have no idea who it is. I mean, that's frightening and scary and I don't think anyone really knows how they'd react until they were put in that situation. But we will follow this story to see if there are any new developments, and you can count on us to certainly weigh in if there are. But thank you so much for joining us today. I'm Amy Robach on behalf of my partner, TJ Holmes. Have a great night, everybody. Legendswithaz.com is a 100% free to play Social Casino and Sportsbook where you can spin the reels, make game predictions and even play live blackjack without leaving your couch.

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