LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — As the year comes to a close, Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman shared his office's successes and gave a look ahead to what he plans to prioritize in the upcoming year.

Coleman said continuing to make Louisville, Kentucky's largest city, safer sits at the top of his list. 

The Violent Crime Reduction team based in Louisville was organized in October 2024. Coleman said the safety team made headway this year, prosecuting its first two jury trials and securing 115 indictments on what he called "trigger pullers" in Louisville. 

"Previously, attorneys general in this state weren't engaged directly in going after the most violent offenders, the trigger pullers. That's what we're doing in Louisville, working with LMPD, working with our federal partners," he said.

Coleman said he feels obligated not only to protect young children and families from violence, but also to fight for justice for the youngest victims of crime while reflecting on the killing of 3-year-old Trinity Randolph and her father Brandon Waddles. 

Kevon Lawless was convicted of the double homicide, but his conviction was overturned in October after the Kentucky Supreme Court ruled the trial should have been ruled a mistrial because of a juror committing perjury.

Coleman restated his commitment to supporting the attorney prosecuting Lawless' case. He said he's fighting for young Randolph and other victims who deserve justice. 

"I'm not going to glorify him by saying his name, but I'll look forward to a successful conviction to bring justice, but also to go after other trigger pullers that would take Daquante Hobbs or Christian Gwen or Trinity Randolph," he said. "The list goes on and on of those families who have lost loved ones like Trinity."

When holding criminals who commit violent crimes accountable, Coleman said he believes the full extent of the law should be considered, advocating for the enforcement of Kentucky's death penalty laws.

In early October, Attorney General Russell Coleman and Governor Andy Beshear found themselves at odds.

Coleman gave a hard push for a signed death warrant for Ralph Baze, who was convicted of killing a Powell County sheriff and a deputy in 1994. He has been on death row for more than 30 years.

Beshear has pointed to a 2010 injunction that puts all executions in the state of Kentucky on hold until certain criteria are met.

Coleman said Thursday Beshear has the power to enforce the death penalty even without those criteria.

"Gov. Beshear uses this as a distraction because he's focused on another job. He's not focused on his current duty under the Kentucky constitution to enforce the law," Coleman said. "I call on the governor to sign a death warrant. He doesn't need additional authority to do so."

WDRB reached out to Governor Beshear, and his communications director Scottie Ellis provided the statement below. 

"Gov. Andy Beshear has secured the best years for economic investment and job creation in the history of Kentucky. Under his leadership, drug overdoses have declined for three straight years. He has led in response to an unprecedented number of natural disasters. While the Attorney General is playing politics, the people of Kentucky know that Gov. Beshear will always be there and that he puts families across the commonwealth first."

In partnerships with state universities, the state is using social media influencers for good and to send a positive message.

In addition to finding ways to better manage crime and fighting for justice for families, Coleman said the drug crisis poses the second biggest threat to the state.

The "Better Without It" initiative was formed this year to encourage young people to say no to drugs. The initiative leans on social media influencers to push positive messages about abstinence from drugs.

"We exist in an environment where as little as one pill can and is killing our kids," Coleman said. "That's why I'm so proud of the 'Better Without It' effort, partnerships with U of L, with UK, with Western, using social media influencers for good, targeting kids 13 to 26 using screens for good. So, that they're seeing a positive message to try to save lives, to stay off this poison. We're going to where kids are to try to save lives."

Coleman also highlighted his office championed the emergency scheduling of 'Designer Xanax' pill that was linked to some 50 deaths in a year. 

To see Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman's full interview, see below.

Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman sat down with WDRB's Rya Wooten on Thursday to discuss this year's successes and what's in store for the upcoming year.

Top Stories:

'Heinous offenses' | Man convicted in violent sexual assault on woman in south Louisville

Louisville officer shoots armed man after ShotSpotter alert in Russell neighborhood, police say

Motorcyclist found dead 4 hours after losing control on I-264 ramp near Louisville's airport

Copyright 2025 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.