Kentucky AG says he won’t be swayed by celebrities in Breonna Taylor killing
The attorney general of Kentucky says he won’t be swayed by celebrities including Beyoncé in deciding whether to bring charges against three white cops in the March killing of a black female EMT during a home raid.
“An investigation of this magnitude, when done correctly, requires time and patience,” state AG Daniel Cameron said Thursday — amid mounting pressure, including from the “Lemonade” superstar, for a decision on potential charges in the death of Breonna Taylor in Louisville on March 13.
“Whether it’s a celebrity or Kentuckian or any interested party, I take great care and concern in every letter we receive and completely understand the interest surrounding this case,” Cameron told reporters when asked about Beyoncé’s open letter to him last week urging action.
“It doesn’t matter who sends me a piece of mail, it won’t have any bearing on the case,” the AG said.
Beyoncé had posted a letter to Cameron on her website in which she said Taylor’s family has “not been able to take time to process and grieve” because of what the singer described as foot-dragging by Kentucky authorities in their investigation into the fatal police shooting.
“Three months have passed — and the LMPD’s investigations have created more questions than answers,” the singer wrote.
“Their incident report states that Ms. Taylor suffered no injuries — yet we know she was shot at least eight times. The LMPD officers claim they announced themselves before forcing their way into Ms. Taylor’s apartment — but her boyfriend who was with her, as well as several neighbors, all say that this is untrue.
“Don’t let this case fall into the pattern of no action after a terrible tragedy,” Beyoncé urged the AG.
Cameron said Thursday, “We will do what is right. We will find the truth.
“I ask the people … to continue to be patient with us.”
Taylor, 26, was killed when Louisville plainclothes cops served a “no-knock” warrant at her apartment and her boyfriend — a licensed gun owner with no criminal record, according to ABC — shot at the officers, allegedly thinking they were intruders, prompting the police to return fire, hitting the aspiring nurse eight times.
The raid was part of a drug probe, authorities have said. No drugs were found in the home.
The head of the city’s police department stepped down after the deadly incident.