Killing of Kathryn Johnston: Difference between revisions
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[[Shawn Mullins]] a singer/songwriter from Atlanta, whose single "[[Lullaby]]" brought him to fame, on his album ''[[Honeydew]]'' wrote and dedicated an entire song to Kathryn Johnston's shooting, called ''[[The Ballad of Kathryn Johnston]]''.{{Citation needed|date=July 2009}} |
[[Shawn Mullins]] a singer/songwriter from Atlanta, whose single "[[Lullaby]]" brought him to fame, on his album ''[[Honeydew]]'' wrote and dedicated an entire song to Kathryn Johnston's shooting, called ''[[The Ballad of Kathryn Johnston]]''.{{Citation needed|date=July 2009}} |
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Rap artist [[David Banner]] made reference to Johnston's shooting in his song "[[So Long]]" from his third studio album ''[[The Greatest Story Ever Told]]''.{{Citation needed|date=July 2009}} |
Rap artist [[David Banner]] made reference to Johnston's shooting in his song "[[So Long]]" from his third studio album ''[[The_Greatest_Story_Ever_Told_(David_Banner_album)|The Greatest Story Ever Told]]''.{{Citation needed|date=July 2009}} |
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==See also == |
==See also == |
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Revision as of 01:57, 11 August 2009
Kathryn Johnston | |
|---|---|
| File:KathrynJohnston.jpg Johnston circa 2000-2006 | |
| Born | June 26, 1914 |
| Died | November 21, 2006 (aged 92) |
| Relatives | Sarah C. Dozier (niece) |
Kathryn Johnston (June 26, 1914 - November 21, 2006)[1] was an elderly Atlanta, Georgia woman who was shot by three undercover police officers in her home on Neal Street in northwest Atlanta on November 21, 2006, where she had lived for 17 years. She fired a warning 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. After the officers shot Johnston, they left her handcuffed on the floor while she bled to death, and then planted marijuana from their patrol car in her basement to try to help justify the shooting. [2][3][4][5]
Shooting
Officers Gary Smith, Gregg Junnier, and Arthur Tesler, were wearing bulletproof vests and carrying riot shields when they entered the home.[6] It was later determined that Johnston 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]
Aftermath
According to WSB-TV in Atlanta, Detective Junnier has told the Federal Bureau of Investigation 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 four years and six months in prison for lying to investigators. He also received six months probation and must serve 450 hours of community service.[16]
On October 30, 2008, Tesler plead guilty to federal charges of conspiracy to violate the civil rights of Johnston.[17] On February 24, 2009, U.S. District Judge Julie Carnes sentenced former officer Gregg Junnier to six years in prison, Jason Smith to 10 years in prison and Arthur Tesler to five years in prison. Junnier and Tesler had faced recommended 10 years in prison under sentencing guidelines, while Smith faced 12 years and seven months.[18]
In reference to this case, Special Agent in Charge Gregory Jones, FBI Atlanta, said, "Few crimes are as reprehensible as those committed by police officers who violate the very laws they have sworn to uphold."[19]
In popular culture
Shawn Mullins a singer/songwriter from Atlanta, whose single "Lullaby" brought him to fame, on his album Honeydew wrote and dedicated an entire song to Kathryn Johnston's shooting, called The Ballad of Kathryn Johnston.[citation needed]
Rap artist David Banner made reference to Johnston's shooting in his song "So Long" from his third studio album The Greatest Story Ever Told.[citation needed]
See also
References
- ^ "2 plead guilty in Atlanta police shooting death". Associated Press at MSNBC. April 26, 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-27.
Initially, the medical examiner's office said Johnston was 88, while her relatives insisted she was 92. Public officials now agree she was 92.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Rankin, Bill (February 25, 2009). "Atlanta police look to restore trust after drug raid killing". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved 2009-03-02.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Jonsson, Patrik (November 29, 2006). "After Atlanta raid tragedy, new scrutiny of police tactics". Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 2007-02-14.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Goodman, Brenda (November 23, 2006). "Police Kill Woman, 92, In Shootout at Her Home". New York Times. Retrieved 2007-02-14.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Bronis, Jason (December 1, 2006). "Tapes Detail Shootout With Elderly Woman". Washington Post. Retrieved 2007-02-14.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Dewan, Shalia (November 28, 2006). "Atlanta Officers Suspended in Inquiry on Killing in Raid". The New York Times. Retrieved 2007-02-14.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Rowson, Kevin (2007-04-27). "Two Cops Plead Guilty to Manslaughter". 11alive. Retrieved 2008-07-18.
After that single shot was fired, the officers returned 39 rounds. Five or six of them hit Kathryn Johnston, who died from the bullet that struck her in the chest.
- ^ "3 police officers charged in drug raid death". USA Today. 2007-04-27. Retrieved 2008-07-18.
- ^ Torpy, Bill (2007-04-27). "Pleas won't end probe of Atlanta police". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 2008-07-18.
- ^ a b "Police shooting of elderly woman leads to federal probe". CNN. 2006-11-27. Retrieved 2007-02-14.
- ^ "Conflicting Information On Johnston Shooting Case". WSB-TV. 2007-01-10. Retrieved 2007-02-14.
- ^ The State of Georgia v. Gregg Junnier, et al.
- ^ Goodman, Brenda (February 9, 2007). "Family of Police Shooting Victim Protests Prosecutor's Actions". New York Times.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Police officer, ex-officer plead guilty in woman's killing". CNN.com. 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.
- ^ "Atlanta cop in botched drug raid pleads guilty". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. October 30, 2008.
- ^ "Ex-Atlanta cops get prison for drug raid killing". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. February 24, 2009.
- ^ "Three Former Atlanta Police Officers Sentenced to Prison in Fatal Shooting of Elderly Atlanta Woman". USDOJ. February 24, 2009.