Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron spoke about the ongoing investigation into Breonna Taylor's death during a Thursday afternoon press conference, asking for patience amid calls for justice from protesters as well as public figures.
"I ask for people to continue to be patient with us as we walk down this path," Cameron said. He noted that his office and the FBI are examining the pending case against Louisville police officers who shot and killed Taylor inside her apartment 97 days ago.
Cameron said his office is "taking this very seriously" and intends to "allow the law and the facts to lead the truth."
"That's what we want in this case, and that's why we've been so meticulous and thorough in this investigation," he continued. He said he would not provide a timeline for the investigation's conclusion but told reporters his office was acting "expeditiously" to evaluate new information and materials as they are received.
"An investigation of this magnitude, when done correctly, requires time and patience," he said, promising a "thorough and fair" investigation. "I can assure you that we understand the urgency, we understand the public outcry, and we understand the need for the truth and the desire for justice."
Newsweek reached out for additional comment from Cameron's office but did not hear back before publication.
On March 13, Taylor was fatally shot when Louisville police entered her apartment after midnight on a "no-knock" search warrant for narcotics, which allowed them to enter in plainclothes. Kenneth Walker, Taylor's boyfriend, and several neighbors said the officers did not state their intentions before they entered. Law enforcement authorities later confirmed that no narcotics were present inside Taylor's residence.
The officers involved in the shooting, Jon Mattingly, Brett Hankison and Myles Cosgrove, were placed on administrative reassignment by the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD), where they remain employed. Last week, Louisville's acting police chief announced that the detective who applied for the warrant, Joshua Jaynes, was also reassigned.
In Louisville following Taylor's death, protesters demanded criminal charges against the LMPD officers for their roles in the shooting. Outrage over her shooting re-emerged during the nationwide demonstrations that erupted after George Floyd's death last month in Minneapolis police custody.
As of Thursday afternoon, more than 7.5 million people have signed an online petition demanding that Mattingly, Hankinson and Cosgrove be held accountable for Taylor's shooting. On Sunday, Beyoncé issued an open letter to Cameron via her website, urging him to take "swift and decisive action" in bringing charges against the officers.
Last Thursday, Louisville's City Council unanimously voted to ban no-knock warrants by law enforcement in a piece of legislation titled "Breonna's Law." Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer signed the bill into law the next day.
