A Kentucky grand jury is expected to deliver its report on Wednesday on the police killing of Breonna Taylor, the 26-year-old black medical worker who was fatally shot in Louisville, Kentucky after officers entered her home using a “no-knock” warrant.
The grand jury will present its report at 1.15 pm EST, and Kentucky’s attorney general Daniel Cameron will discuss a decision at 1.30 pm EST.
Louisville’s mayor declared a state of emergency ahead of the announcement, as protests continue to demand justice for Ms Taylor’s killing on 13 March, which has galvanised a global call urging law enforcement to “arrest the cops” involved.
The city has anxiously waited for a decision whether prosecutors will charge Jonathan Mattingly, Myles Cosgrove and Brett Hankison for their role in her killing.
«Our goal is ensuring space and opportunity for potential protesters to gather and express their First Amendment rights after the announcement,» mayor Greg Fischer said in a statement on Tuesday. «At the same time, we are preparing for any eventuality to keep everyone safe.»
The city reached a settlement with the family of Ms Taylor earlier this month as part of a landmark civil lawsuit agreement to pay $12m to her estate and commit to police reform and transparency measures in the wake of her death.
None of the three officers wore body-mounted cameras, and no criminal charges have been filed.
The lawsuit alleges that police relied on flawed information using a «no-knock» warrant to enter her apartment, during which Ms Taylor’s boyfriend fired at what he thought were intruders, and police killed Ms Taylor while returning fire.
Mr Hankinson was fired three months after her death for «wantonly and blindly» firing 10 rounds into her apartment, according to then-interim Louisville Police Chief Robert Schroeder.
Tamika Palmer, Ms Taylor’s mother, said that the settlement “must not lose focus on what the real job is.”
“It’s time to move forward with the criminal charges, because she deserves that and much more,” she said on 15 September.
She asked supporters to “please continue to say her name”, echoing a phrase from protests heard around the world demanding justice after her death.
