Kathryn Johnston
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Kathryn Johnston | |
 Johnston circa 2000-2006
|
|
| Born | c. 1914 Atlanta, Georgia |
|---|---|
| Died | November 21, 2006 Atlanta, Georgia |
Kathryn Johnston (c. 1914 - November 21, 2006) was an elderly [1] Atlanta, Georgia woman shot by three undercover police in her home on Neal Street in northwest Atlanta on November 21, 2006 where she had lived for 17 years.[2] She fired a shot into the ceiling after officers pried off burglar bars and broke down her door using a no knock warrant. None of the officers were injured by her gunfire, but Johnston was killed by the officers.[3][4][5]
Officers Gary Smith (b. 1968), Gregg Junnier (b. 1966), and Arthur Tesler (42 years of age), were wearing bulletproof vests and carrying riot shields when they were shot at. [6] It was later determined that Johnston only fired one shot, which did not hit any officers. The police officers fired a total of 39 shots, six of which hit Johnston.[7][8][9] Police injuries sustained in the raid were due to friendly fire and were not from Johnston's gun.
In an attempt to justify the no-knock warrant, the Atlanta Police Department initially claimed that the police were searching for drug dealers after a police informant was said to have bought crack cocaine at Johnston's home earlier in the day. However, both a federal and state investigation revealed that this was untrue. [10] In the affidavit police used to obtain a search warrant for Johnston's house, Atlanta, Georgia narcotics officers alleged their informant bought drugs inside Johnston's home earlier in the day from a man named "Sam", and that the home had video surveillance equipment justifying the no knock warrant. In an interview with Atlanta television station WAGA a few days after Johnston's shooting, the informant denied having gone to her house and said that after the shooting, the police pressured him to lie and say that he had.[10]
According to WSB-TV in Atlanta, Detective Junnier has told the FBI that some of the information used to obtain the search warrant on Johnston's home was false.[11]
On February 7, 2007, it was announced that Georgia's district attorney would seek felony murder and burglary indictments against the three agents involved.[12] The Rev. Markel Hutchins, acting as spokesman for Johnston's family, said her family members were "stunned and disappointed" by the announcement of the indictments because they believe it will disrupt a larger federal investigation of civil rights violations by the Atlanta Police Department.[13]
On April 26, 2007, Smith and Junnier pleaded guilty to manslaughter, violation of oath, criminal solicitation, and making false statements. Smith additionally pleaded guilty to perjury.[14] Furthermore, the federal probe into the police department revealed that Atlanta police routinely lied to obtain search warrants, including often falsifying affidavits. [15]
On May 22, 2008, Tesler was sentenced to 4 years and six months in prison for lying to investigators. He also received 6 months probation and must serve 450 hours of community service.[16]
News outlets, including CNN, reported her age as 92 years old, but the coroner listed her age as 88. [10]
[edit] References
- ^ "2 plead guilty in Atlanta police shooting death.", Associated Press, April 26, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-04-27.
- ^ Johnston had a niece, Sarah C. Dozier.
- ^ "After Atlanta raid tragedy, new scrutiny of police tactics.", Christian Science Monitor, November 29, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-02-14.
- ^ "Police Kill Woman, 92, In Shootout at Her Home.", New York Times, November 23, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-02-14.
- ^ "Tapes Detail Shootout With Elderly Woman.", Associated Press, December 1, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-02-14.
- ^ "Atlanta Officers Suspended in Inquiry on Killing in Raid.", The New York Times, November 28, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-02-14.
- ^ Two Cops Plead Guilty to Manslaughter, reported by Kevin Rowson, web editor Tracey Christensen, 11alive.com, 2007-04-27.
- ^ 3 police officers charged in drug raid death, USA Today
- ^ Pleas won't end probe of Atlanta police, by Bill Torpy, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 2007-04-27.
- ^ a b c "Police shooting of elderly woman leads to federal probe.", CNN. Retrieved on 2007-02-14.
- ^ "Conflicting Information On Johnston Shooting Case.", WSB-TV. Retrieved on 2007-02-14.
- ^ The State of Georgia v. Gregg Junnier, et al.
- ^ Brenda Goodman. "Family of Police Shooting Victim Protests Prosecutor’s Actions", New York Times, February 9, 2007.
- ^ "Police officer, ex-officer plead guilty in woman's killing", Associated Press, April 26, 2007.
- ^ "Feds: Atlanta police often lie to obtain search warrants", AJC, April 26, 2007.
- ^ "Ex-cop gets 4½ years in deadly raid cover-up", CNN, May 22, 2008.
