Taylor’s family seeks release of grand jury records

Breonna Taylor’s family and their lawyers sharply criticized Kentucky’s attorney general for the failure to bring charges against police officers in her death, calling Friday for him to release the transcripts of the grand jury proceeding while vowing to continue their protests until the officers are charged.

Tamika Palmer, Taylor’s mother, said in a statement read by a relative to a gathering in Louisville that she did not expect justice from state Attorney General Daniel Cameron.

Ben Crump, a lawyer for the family, urged the prosecutor to make the transcripts public, so people can see if anyone was present at the grand jury proceedings to give a voice to Taylor. Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, has also called for Cameron to release what evidence he can.

Taylor, a Black woman who was an emergency medical worker, was shot multiple times by white officers after Taylor’s boyfriend fired at them, authorities said. He said he fired in self-defense, wounding one officer. Police were conducting a drug investigation and entered the home on a warrant connected to a suspect who did not live there, and no drugs were found inside.

Cameron has said the investigation showed officers acted in self-defense. The grand jury charged one officer, who has already been fired, with firing into a neighboring apartment.

The FBI is still investigating whether Taylor’s civil rights were violated, and some have put their hope in that probe, but the burden of proof for such cases is very high.

On Thursday, protesters in Louisville raised their fists and called out “Black lives matter!” Others tended to the letters, flowers and signs grouped together in a square downtown.

In demonstrations that turned violent late Thursday, at least 24 people were arrested, police said.

Police eventually pulled back late Thursday after negotiating with demonstrators to end the protest.

Two officers were shot during violence Wednesday were expected to recover.

Larynzo D. Johnson, 26, was charged, and a not guilty plea was entered for him Friday. Bond was set at $1 million.

Zac Meihaus, the attorney representing Johnson at the arraignment, said the area where the shootings occurred was “a war zone” and said it is difficult to “pinpoint” if Johnson fired the shots. A prosecutor replied that a gun was recovered from Johnson, and there are video and witness accounts of the shootings.

Since Taylor’s killing, Louisville has taken some steps to address protesters’ concerns. In addition to the officer who was fired and later charged, three others were put on desk duty. Officials have banned no-knock warrants and hired a Black woman as the permanent police chief — a first for the city.

Louisville also agreed to more police reforms as it settled a lawsuit that included $12 million for Taylor’s family.

DARRON CUMMINGS / AP Tamika Palmer (right), mother of Breonna Taylor, who was shot to death by officers serving a warrant at her home, attends a news conference where attorney Ben Crump called for the officers to be charged.