Posted on 11/22/2006 8:16:37 PM PST by AdamSelene235
ATLANTA -- Three Atlanta police officers were shot and wounded and an elderly woman killed at a house in northwest Atlanta Tuesday night.
The woman, identified by relatives as 92-year old Kathryn Johnston, opened fire on the officers from the narcotics division at a house at 933 Neal Street, according to officials.
Atlanta Police Asst. Chief Alan Dreher said at a news conference Wednesday that an undercover officer made a drug purchase at Johnston’s address late Tuesday afternoon from a male suspect. Officers were able to obtain a search warrant after that.
Asst. Chief Dreher said as they were executing the search warrant, the officers announced themselves and then forced open the door. Officials say the warrant was a “No Knock” warrant – meaning that the officers did not knock before forcing open the door, but they did announce themselves.
Dreher said as soon as the officers forced open the door, Johnston shot at the officers and the officers returned fire to protect themselves. One officer was shot 3 times – once in the leg, on the side of the face and once in his bulletproof vest. One officer was hit in the leg and another hit in their arm. All officers are on paid administrative leave pending an investigation – as is common.
Officials say they have not made any arrests in the case and they have not located the male suspect. Dreher said suspected narcotics were recovered from the home but they are awaiting lab results to confirm the items are drugs.
Dreher said a marked patrol vehicle was parked in front of the residence and the word “Police” was written across the front and back of the narcotics team’s vests. He also said only a matter of minutes passed between when officers arrived on the scene and when they forced open the door.
Asst. Chief Dreher referred to the incident as a, “tragic and unfortunate incident.”
The woman's niece, Sarah Dozier, says that she bought her aunt a gun to protect herself. Relatives believe Johnston was frightened by the officers and opened fire.
Her relatives say Johnston had lived in the house for about 17 years.
"They kicked her door down talking about drugs, there's no drugs in that house. And they realize now, they've got the wrong house," Dozier said. "I'm mad as hell." Officials say they had the correct house and that the warrant they had was legal.
She says the officers "shot her down like a dog."
Police say the investigation is continuing.
Yesterday I read she shot them as they approached her house. Now it was when they came thru the door. If they found drugs, I would think they would know by now. Who was the guy they bought from?
After Ramparts, I'd bet money the cops realized their error and planted said evidence.
"the officers announced themselves"
If you are old, it's hard to understand bellowing through a door.
OPANNUPPOLEEEEZWIDAWARRRANNN then the door gets forced with a ram.
What a terrible thing.
Ya know, drugs are bad, and so are dealers, but this *No Knock* policy is costing too much in the way of innocent lives. It's not worth the cost of trying to get a dealer. I have my own opinions about what they should do with drug dealers but I'd probably get flamed for them. Suffice to say, if they bought drugs from someone there, they should have arrested him on the spot and confiscated what they found then. Then they can seal the place up and get a warrant to finish the search ASAP.
If you are old, it's often hard to hear, period.
"what they should do with drug dealers but I'd probably get flamed for them."
I've read Clancy's Without Remorse.
>>Dreher said suspected narcotics were recovered from the home but they are awaiting lab results to confirm the items are drugs.
>If they found drugs, I would think they would know by now
Because of the requirement for double testing, chain of custody, etc, it takes about 7-10 days.
Ya, but she had time to know something was happening, and the bellowing, a few seconds before the door went down, apparently was enough time to pick up a gun.
Let's face it. The war on drugs is but a means of confiscating private property without due process. I hope to God the idiot who sanctioned this raid gets his due.
They better have found a significant stash of hard drugs.
"Police: Shooting Of Elderly Woman "Tragic, Unfortunate""
Duh! Ya think? Sheesh!
"Dreher said suspected narcotics were recovered from the home but they are awaiting lab results to confirm the items are drugs."
He highlights quite a few raids "gone wrong" resulting in innocent people injured and killed.
In Public Relations speak this translates to "No Apology is Forthcoming or Needed, Business Will Continue as Usual. EOM"
This crap scares me more than a terrorist killing me. I really think we need to change our laws. The only no knock or kick down the down entry should be done if a murder suspect or hostage is inside or someones life inside is being threatned. Otherwise it is not worth dead innocent people, stomped kittens and shot dogs. I think this needs to be stopped.
Oh, ok. I'm going to be surprised if something was going on there though. It's not that elderly don't do stuff like this but I would have thought we would have heard something about a relative living there or something.
Me too. Why not just arrest the guy when he sold them drugs?
Hearing the noise doesn't mean she heard it clearly. I don't know too many 90+ year olds who have good hearing. It's not like she was 19 with great hearing, eyesight, and quick reflexes. Yes, she had time to pick up the gun but we don't know how accessable she kept it.
If she had a clue that there were druggies coming to the house, or if she was indeed dealing herself, then I could see where she would be skittish about a bunch of men hollering and kicking her door in. If she had reason to think they were druggies, she had reason to fear for her life. I'm giving her the benefit of the doubt.
There are so many different stories floating around. One report was that she saw them approaching. How anyone would know that though........
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