LEXINGTON, Ky. — After months of few answers in the Breonna Taylor case, anticipation for an announcement from Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron led Tuesday to restricted access to downtown Louisville and reaction from Taylor’s family.
While no information had been released as of Tuesday night about whether charges would be filed against the officers involved in the shooting death of 26-year-old Breonna Taylor, Taylor’s mother, Tamika Palmer, posted on Instagram, “Dear Breonna, Justice is coming.” Cameron also is expected to provide more details about how Taylor died, possibly this week, but he hasn’t publicly set a date for releasing anything.
The Louisville Metro Police Department announced Tuesday that vehicle blockades and traffic and parking restrictions would be in place. The restrictions were implemented to “ensure the area is as safe as possible for those coming downtown to express their First Amendment rights, as well as those who live and work in the area,” the department said in its announcement.
Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer declared a state of emergency Tuesday so he can exercise emergency powers when an announcement is made. Fischer’s office stressed that the mayor did not know when Cameron’s announcement would be made or what it would be.
Fischer said the precautions were in place to prepare for “any eventuality” to keep people safe and allow space for people to exercise their First Amendment rights. The measures were met with some criticism.
Police investigators Brett Hankison, Myles Cosgrove and Jonathan Mattingly fired their weapons when Taylor was killed in her Louisville apartment in March.
On Tuesday, an email from Mattingly to Louisville sworn officers was shared on social media by Roberto Aram Ferdman of Vice News. In the email, Mattingly encouraged officers and told them they were supported by most of the community. He also referred to some protesters as “thugs” and harshly questioned the actions of city leaders and the FBI. An attorney for Mattingly confirmed to WDRB that the email was authentic.
On Monday, it was reported by the Louisville Courier Journal and other outlets that Louisville police had canceled upcoming days off for their officers in preparation for any community reaction from the announced decision.
The federal courthouse in Louisville was also closed for the week and boarded up as word of an upcoming announcement spread.
Lexington police said Monday that while they were aware of a possible upcoming decision in the case and the possibility for community reaction, they could not release information on staffing changes or any other preparations.
There was no order or announcement of courthouse or other closures in Lexington in anticipation of the announcement. Lexington had multiple days of protests after the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, during which participants demanded city police reforms. A group was formed to consider the issues and make recommendations to city leaders in the coming weeks.
In the months that followed Taylor’s death, protests about her killing have been held around the country repeatedly to call for justice in the case.
Many, including Taylor’s family, have called for criminal charges to be filed against the officers involved.
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