Louisville Police Fire Brett Hankison, Officer in Breonna Taylor Shooting

The Louisville Metro Police Department on Tuesday fired one of the three officers involved in the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor, the most significant action yet in a case that has drawn public outrage for the killing and the fact that no criminal charges have been filed.

In a termination letter posted to the department’s Twitter account, Chief Robert Schroeder accused the former officer, Brett Hankison, of violating its policy on the use of deadly force, saying he “wantonly and blindly” fired 10 shots into Ms. Taylor’s apartment on March 13.

After Ms. Taylor’s boyfriend shot one officer in the leg as they broke down her door during a drug raid, the officers returned fire and killed Ms. Taylor, 26.

Questions about Ms. Taylor’s death intensified after George Floyd was killed by the Minneapolis police in May. Weeks of protests in Louisville, Ky., followed, and Mayor Greg Fischer banned no-knock warrants.