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.
Update: Informant Says Cops Told Him To Lie About Shooting Of Elderly Atlanta Woman
OK. Let's try the latest hypothesis that seems to make the most sense on this thread of libertairan angst.
The cops randomly picked out a house with an old black lady in it. They invaded for the the fun of it. They got shot. They then murdered the old lady for spite. Cops are always doing this. The thrill of getting shot at is the sole purpose.
There is certainly precedent for this in Atlanta. Witness says undercover cop shot man as he begged for mercy
I frequented this motorcycle shop when I was a Georgia Tech student. One day I went to get some tires and it was all shot up. Several witnesses who I knew who all told the same story: A plain clothes detective executed an innocent customer on the sidewalk. Mind you, for months, the official story was it was just another drug raid.
My best guess is the plain clothes detectives were trying rob the place and got more than they bargained for. Again, there is precedent, prior to this a group of Atlanta cops were caught stealing safes from businesses.
OK. Let's try the latest hypothesis that seems to make the most sense on this thread of libertairan angst.
You choose to live in a place where you can not carry a flintlock on Lexington Green; you must be overjoyed with your state's complete purge of libertarian values.
It's not so complete. The Hempfest takes place on Boston Common every year. The Massachusetts Supreme Court is ramming homosexual marriage down our throats or up our keisters, whichever. That's for starters.
Back to the story about gunner granny. You now think the cops were going to rob her? I'm trying to follow the Libertarian argument. I'd like to hear a rational explanation of why these cops "murdered" her. We know the means. We know the opportunity. I'd like to hear a credible "motive."
I'll wait to see what the FBI says.
I doubt the cops would be looking to rob her but I wouldn't be surprised if they were looking to shake down a drug dealer. I wouldn't expect them to bother with a warrant under those circumstances.
Let's see what the federal investigation reveals.
The Hempfest takes place on Boston Common every year.
Don't mistake liberality for liberty.
Some firefighters have been caught setting fires so they could have the thrill of battling them. It would hardly seem unlikely that some cops might enjoy attacking defenseless people who won't fight back. Getting shot at wouldn't part of the plan, of course.
If the cops had expected a level of danger sufficient to justify a no-knock raid, absent an extreme exigency like a hostage in mortal peril, barging in without some preliminary surveillance/reconnaisance efforts would be reckless if not borderline suicidal.
To me, the reckless way in which these raids are conducted shows that the cops know full well that the people they're raiding aren't likely to be very dangerous.
Thanks for the update. It seems they have gone from one extreme to another. She wasn't "murdered" Weren't these guys following orders? Whose? That's where the focus needs to be IMO.
Chain of lies led to botched raid
On Dec. 11, three weeks after the shooting, Junnier told the FBI it was all a lie.
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