The family of Breonna Taylor said on Thursday they expect charges to be filed ‘sooner rather than later’, but the Attorney General is still waiting on ballistics from the FBI 150 days after she was shot dead by three officers in Kentucky.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, as well as co-counsel Lonita Baker, stood outside the Kentucky federal courthouse with Tamika Palmer, Breonna’s mother, and aunt to discuss the meeting they had Wednesday with city officials.
Crump announced that they expected charges to be filed against the three plainsclothes officers who shot dead Breonna inside her home soon.
In doing so, he urged Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer to take more action and be aggressive in his pursuit of justice.
Attorney Ben Crump (left) appeared with co-counsel Lonita Baker (right), Bianca Palmer (far left) and Tamika Palmer (right) outside the Kentucky federal courthouse for a press conference about Breonna Taylor
‘We do expect charges to be filed sooner rather than later for those responsible for the death and the execution of Breonna Taylor,’ Crump said with Palmer by his side.
‘There’s always a fork in the road. Mayor Fischer can take the road that has commonly been taken in America where there’s two justice systems: one for Black America and one for White America.
‘Or he can take the road less traveled that I have seen in many cases across America. And that is to fight for equal justice for every citizen in the United States of America, especially here in Louisville, Kentucky.’
Before Crump took the podium, co-counsel Baker revealed that Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron was still waiting for additional information regarding the case before making a final decision.
‘He did not divulge any of the details of the investigation, but said he is waiting on ballistics from the FBI, as well as re-interviewing some witnesses that they may have already spoken to,’ said Baker.
Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron is still waiting on ballistics from the FBI and re-interviewing witnesses in Breonna’s case. Pictured: Signs are held up showing Breonna Taylor during a rally in her honor on the steps of the Kentucky State Capitol
Lonta Baker (center): ‘We do want this resolved quickly and accurately so that Ms. Palmer and the family can get some answers as it relates to the murder of Breonna Taylor’
She shared Crump’s sentiment that they hoped to see charges filed against the Louisville police officers relatively soon.
‘It is our position that we’re not going to wait forever,’ said Baker.
‘We do want this resolved quickly and accurately so that Ms. Palmer and the family can get some answers as it relates to the murder of Breonna Taylor.’
She added that AG Cameron does not have a set timeline for when charges will be filed.
On March 13, 26-year-old Breonna was shot dead inside her apartment on Springfield Avenue during a no-knock search warrant at her home.
She and her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, were asleep when three plainsclothes officers burst into the apartment around 1am.
Louisville police have claimed that they identified themselves before entering the property using a battering ram, but Breonna’s family and neighbor’s dispute this.
They said police never identified themselves during the incident and that Walker, who was legally allowed to have a firearm, opened fire at officers because he believed they were getting robbed.
Breonna Taylor (pictured) was shot dead by three plainsclothes officers with the Louisville Metro Police Department on Marc 13 while in bed
Police executed a no-knock search warrant at Breonna’s (left and right) home over suspicions of drugs, but found nothing
Officers fired back at the couple and shot Breonna eight times.
The warrant to search her home was in connection with a suspect who did not live there and no drugs were found.
Walker was charged with first-degree assault and attempted murder of a police officer after Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly was hit in the leg during the incident
Mattingly was accompanied by officers Brett Hankinson and Myles Cosgrove.
Hankinson was later fired for violating Louisville Metro Police Department’s policies by blindly firing 10 rounds into Breonna’s home at the time. Mattingly and Cosgrove were placed on administrative leave.
None of the officers involved have been arrested yet and that fact continues to fuel a series of Black Lives Matter demonstrations across the country.
After the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis on Memorial Day, Black Lives Matter protests fighting police brutality and racial injustice have gripped the nation.
A movement calling for the arrest of the officers have swept across social media, with celebrities like Jessica Alba and Olivia Wilde donning black t-shirts reading ‘Arrest the Cops Who Killed Breonna Taylor.’
At the press conference, Crump noted that it had been 150 days since Breonna was killed.
‘As we sit here over 150 days later after this tragedy that should have never happened, attorney Baker and I met with Mayor Fisher and the city attorney’s office,’ he said.
‘We had a very positive, productive conversation about how we try to work together to rebuild this city beyond getting justice, in a criminal matter, for Breonna Taylor.’
Crump added that they ‘held no punches back’ with Mayor Fischer.
Not just because he’s the top Louisville official, but because he is also currently the President of the United States Conference of Mayors.
Whatever actions Mayor Fischer takes not only sends a message to Louisville, but a message to cities all across America, said Crump.
‘We challenged him to make sure he is courageous and responsible in trying to lead his city out of this tragedy. Not only as legacy for his adminstration, not only as legacy for his city, but as legacy for Breonna Taylor,’ he said.
‘He has that power and we want him to rise to the occasion. So, [Baker and I] about he deals with protesters. Let’s make sure we look at what happened in other cities across America who have dealt with similar, unnecessary, unjustifiable and senseless killing of black people by police.’
At the time of the shooting, Breonna (center) had been asleep in bed with her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker (left)
Pictured: a billboard purchased by Oprah urges Americans to demand justice in the killing of Breonna Taylor
Crump then pointed to Minneapolis, where officers Derek Chauvin, J Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao were ‘immediately’ fired after Floyd’s death.
He mentioned Atlanta, where Mayor Kiesha Lance Bottoms called for Officer Garrett Rolfe’s termination after he shot dead Rayshard Brooks.
In Louisville, ‘we do know that if you lie in your job, that’s grounds for termination,’ said Crump.
‘We know that the police officer lied on that probable cause affidavit to entice the judge to sign the the no-knock warrant that led to execution of Breonna Taylor.’
He asked that the city officials work towards Breonna’s case with the fervor.
Crump suggested the city officials understand why people are so emotional about Breonna’s case as residents continue to protest into August.
‘I hope mayor Fischer will see the potential in that young citizen in Louisville and not treat him like a criminal and not add to overwhelmed criminal justice system in Louisville,’ said Crump.
‘So let’s look for future John Lewis’ in those protesters,’ said Crump.
Pictured: A ground mural depicting a portrait of Breonna Taylor is seen at Chambers Park in Annapolis, Maryland
Pictured: A person holds a sign as people gather following the death of Breonna Taylor and other Black Americans in to police brutality
Bianca Palmer, Breonna’s aunt, said that ‘it’s been 150 days, but it still feels like March 13.’
‘It never gets any easier. We have faith in the city they will do the right thing. I want everyone to continue be out here on the streets to help us – you don’t have to be a protester to help.
Bianca added that the Louisville community doesn’t ‘need anymore names.’
‘Get involved in out community. I’m asking out community leaders to step up. There’s a lot of us. There’s a church on every corner. We need to take our city back. We don’t need anymore names. We don’t need anymore Breonna Taylors’
She told city officials to step up.
Tamika Palmer (center): There definitely shouldn’t ever be another Breonna Taylor anywhere. It’s definitely bigger than Breonna.
‘It’s time for change. As we reflect the 150 days since Breonna was murdered, we have gotten a lot accomplished but there is still a lot to be done and I expect the city to step up, we’re tired
Crump added that he hoped 150 days doesn’t transform into 200.
Finally, Tamika Palmer encouraged the scores of Americans who have rallied behind Breonna and her family to not give up.
‘150 days, five months. Every day is still March 13. It’s still a lot of work to do. At this point it’s bigger than Breonna, bigger than just black lives, it’s about bridging gap between us and police.
‘There definitely shouldn’t ever be another Breonna Taylor anywhere,’ said Tamika as she began to cry. ‘It’s definitely bigger than Breonna.’