Police Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

2 Louisville Officers Shot During Rioting Over Breonna Taylor Ruling

Two officers with the Louisville Metro Police Department were shot and wounded as what had been a mostly peaceful protest during daylight hours devolved into a violent riot after the sun set and a government-issued curfew loomed over the city.

September 24, 2020
2 Louisville Officers Shot During Rioting Over Breonna Taylor Ruling

Officer Robinson Desroches, left, and Major Aubrey Gregory, right, of the Louisville Metro Police Department were shot and wounded Wednesday night. (Photo: LMPD)

2 min to read


Two officers with the Louisville Metro Police Department were shot and wounded Wednesday night as what had been a mostly peaceful protest during daylight hours devolved into a riot after the sun set and a government-issued curfew loomed over the city.

According to the Louisville Courier-Journal, the officers--LMPD Maj. Aubrey Gregory and Officer Robinson Desroches were shot around 8:30 p.m. Both are listed in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries and one suspect—identified as 26-year-old Larynzo Johnson—has been taken into custody. Johnson is expected to be arraigned Friday morning.

Ad Loading...

Multiple small fires were ignited in trash cans near the center of the city. Most businesses had boarded up their storefronts in the hours before the anticipated announcement of the findings of the grand jury, so damage to commercial spaces was mostly mitigated. However, nearly 130 people were arrested during the overnight unrest.

Former Detective Brett Hankison faces three charges of wanton endangerment in the incident that left Breonna Taylor dead, but those charges are not directly related to her death. They stem from the accusation that Hankison allegedly acted outside of department policy when he fired his service pistol through a closed door. Three of his rounds went into surrounding occupied apartments.

Agency policy requires a clear line of sight to an intended target—a closed door would prevent that capability. Chief Robert Schroeder said that he terminated Hankison's employment with the agency after a brief investigation into the incident, saying that Hankinson had "fired indiscriminately" into Taylor's apartment as well as into adjoining units.  

Hankison was booked into the Shelby County Detention Center on Wednesday afternoon and released about half an hour later after posting a $15,000 cash bond.

Hankison is the only LMPD officer to be fired for his role in the fatal raid at Taylor's apartment. The other two officers who fired their weapons at Taylor's apartment during the incident—Sergeant Jonathan Mattingly and Detective Myles Cosgrove—will not face criminal charges and remain on the force.

Ad Loading...

All three officers at the scene were returning fire after a man in the apartment—identified as Kenneth Walker—shot one of the officers attempting to serve a warrant on the residence.

Protests in other cities across the country—including New York and Los Angeles—also resulted in some levels of violence, but Louisville was the epicenter of the demonstrations and rioting following the grand jury's ruling. Officials in Louisville are bracing for additional nights of violence as the weekend approaches.

 

More Patrol

POLICE Topics, Tactics & Tips video series graphic featuring a Garmont Tactical Contact Collection duty boot against a police vehicle with flashing lights. Includes “Watch Now” callout for the video series.
Patrolby Wayne ParhamJuly 9, 2026

Garmont Tactical Contact Collection: New Duty Boots for Law Enforcement

Choosing the right duty boot can make a significant difference during long shifts. In this video overview, Kyle Ferdyn, of Garmont Tactical, introduces the new Contact Collection, designed specifically for law enforcement professionals seeking comfort, traction, and durability.

Read More →
Benchmade Bailout folding knife with a bronze tanto blade, taiga green handle, and orange accents displayed open against a textured black background, highlighting its lightweight tactical design.
PatrolJuly 9, 2026

Benchmade Launches Taiga Green Bailout

Benchmade has launched its Taiga Green Bailout, which features an anodized aluminum handle, S90V stainless steel, and Burnt Copper hardware accents.

Read More →
Composite image of ADEPT's Nova Titanium tactical helmet, showing front and side views alongside a soldier wearing the helmet in the field, highlighting lightweight ballistic protection for military and tactical applications.
PatrolJuly 9, 2026

Adept Armor Launches the Nova Titanium Combat Helmet: A Metal Ballistic Helmet at Composite-Helmet Weight

Adept Armor said its new Nova Titanium combat helmet delivers rated 9mm protection at 920 grams all-in, low backface deformation, edge-to-edge coverage, and an indefinite shelf life at roughly a quarter the price of premium polyethylene helmets.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Two healthcare professionals model 5.11 medical scrubs—one in gray and one in blue—against a blurred hospital background, highlighting the brand’s professional apparel for medical workers.
PatrolJuly 2, 2026

5.11 Expands Professional Services Line with Premium, Performance-Driven Scrubs Designed for Healthcare Professionals

The launch of high-performance medical scrubs marks another major expansion of 5.11’s growing Professional Services category, enabling hospitals and healthcare systems to outfit a wide range of roles.

Read More →
Close-up of a black SOG Seal FX knife featuring a commemorative 250th anniversary engraving on the blade, displayed on an American flag to honor the United States' semiquincentennial.
PatrolJuly 2, 2026

SOG Knives Unveils 250th Anniversary Limited Edition Fixed Blade

SOG Knives has debuted its 250th Anniversary Limited Edition SEAL FX Fixed Blade, and only 250 are available. It features an advanced 4.3-inch S35VN steel blade and a tough glass-reinforced nylon handle.

Read More →
Close-up of a slim black Streamlight Wedge SL flashlight resting on an olive tactical vest with a black-and-gray American flag patch, its LED illuminated to showcase the compact everyday carry design.
Patrolby Wayne ParhamJune 25, 2026

POLICE Product Test: Streamlight Wedge SL

The Streamlight Wedge SL is a high-performance light for inspection or administrative tasks that features USB-C charging and an output up to 500 lumens in a compact package.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Graphic recognizing Officer Michael Jaycox of the San Jose (CA) Police Department as Officer of the Month for May 2026, featuring his uniformed portrait beside a badge-and-rose emblem.
PatrolJune 25, 2026

NLEOMF Officer of the Month Saved Child from Burning Vehicle

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund named Officer Michael Jaycox of the San Jose Police Department (California) as the Officer of the Month for May 2026. Read more about Jaycox’s heroic actions.

Read More →
Promotional image for Garmont Tactical’s Contact Collection featuring black tactical boots displayed in front of a police vehicle with flashing red and blue emergency lights. Text announces the new collection and notes it is now available.
PatrolJune 24, 2026

Garmont Tactical Introduces the Contact Collection for LE

Garmont Tactical has launched its Contact Collection, a new lineup of law-enforcement duty boots featuring 4-inch and 6-inch options, including waterproof models.

Read More →
Graphic celebrating 1,613 Folds of Honor graduates, featuring graduation books, a diploma, a mortarboard cap, the Folds of Honor logo, and an inset photo of a graduate standing in front of a campus building.
PatrolJune 11, 2026

Folds of Honor Celebrates Graduation Season as 1,613 Military and First Responder Family Scholars Earn Their Degrees

Every Folds of Honor scholar graduating in the Class of 2026 carries a story starting with sacrifice. Folds of Honor ensures it doesn’t end there. Since 2007, Folds of Honor has awarded nearly 73,000 educational scholarships to military and first responder families.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Graphic for a POLICE Magazine article on Tennessee’s new deadly force law, featuring Lady Justice, handcuffs, a Tennessee map with Nashville highlighted, and the headline “Impact of New Deadly Force Law.”
Patrolby David StephensJune 4, 2026

Why Tennessee’s New Deadly Force Law Matters Beyond Tennessee

Tennessee’s new deadly force law is more limited than many may realize. Effective July 1, 2026, the law applies to a person who is not engaged in conduct that would constitute a felony or a Class A misdemeanor and who is in a place where the person lawfully resides. But it could have far-reaching influence.

Read More →