After more than six months since Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old ER technician, was gunned down in her apartment while sleeping by Louisville, Kentucky police; who entered her residence via a “no-knock” warrant, a decision in her tragic death is finally on the way.
On Wednesday (Sept. 23) morning, officials in the city confirmed to the public that the Jefferson County grand jury will reveal their verdict to Jefferson Circuit Judge Annie O’Connell about the case at 1:15 p.m. ET. Moreover, after that decision is announced, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron is also scheduled to speak on the matter.
The public knew a decision was coming this week when the Louisville Metro Police Department declared state of emergency on Monday (Sept. 21), as everyone awaited the reveal. Since then, the entire city and its businesses have been shut down, as social media users can see from videos and photos posted by Louisville’s residents.
“To ensure we have the appropriate level of staffing to provide for public safety services and our policing functions, effective immediately the LMPD will operate under the emergency staffing and reporting guidelines as outlined in the Standard Operating Procedures, Emergency Response Plan and collective bargaining agreements until further notice,” LMPD Interim Chief Rob Schroeder’s memo to his staff read earlier this week.
All cops requested leave days and non-submitted vacation days were also canceled. “Effective immediately, all off-days are hereby cancelled and vacation requests that have not already been submitted and approved are cancelled until further notice,” the message continued.
With this LMPD announcement, it’s looked like the city’s cops have been gearing for an upset. This has caused many to wonder if authorities already know what the decision is.
According to the Courier Journal, “Lonita Baker, an attorney for Taylor’s family, said as of 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, said they have not heard any information from the attorney general’s office about the decision, what time or when it will be announced.”
The city, and the entire country for that matter, has had countless protests in support of Taylor’s killers being brought to justice. Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly, Detective Myles Cosgrove and former detective Brett Hankison were the men who fired their weapons that night of her sad passing.
The city of Louisville has already reached a settlement with Taylor’s family for $12 million in her loved one’s wrongful death lawsuit.