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.
I agree...what is the problem. You surround the house and wait...and wait.
Hey dudes...You lost the war on drugs 30 yrs ago and now we have to pay...not the criminals.
Drugs are not worth anyone dieing over.
Buying drugs there is a good reason to execute a search warrant, but do the raid at the time of the purchase; use a dog to find the rest of the stash.
Another casualty in the failed WOD. The only thing unusual about this is the age of the victim. Go WOD, go WOD, go WOD! More insane results from an insane undertaking.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/content/shared-gen/ap/National/Elderly_Shootout.html I didn't know if I could post the article. Who is Sam? Supposedly her 75 y/o niece is her only relative.
I hope that our new Democratic overlords have something more to offer our nation than urban riots.
It's just so wrong. Here in Texas, they might also take her house.
She looked healthy and happy. A shame to live to your 90's and get killed like this.
She could have seen these guys buying drugs from this Sam, on her property and thought they were drug dealers too.
She had the wherewith all to hit three policemen with five rounds. This is on top of the reported fact that her niece recently bought her the gun. She seems alert and competent to me. She knew who she was shooting at. She figured she would survive because who would shoot an old lady. She would play the race card too. The problem with getting old is believing this crap. She got what she deserved.
Are you a cop?
brave sadistic heros killing old women bump...
Each time I read your post, I get more aggravated. If she was alert and comptent then she had a right to own a gun, learn how to use it, and defend herself.
The guys didn't have any choice after the firing started. They started it though.
Happens all the time. Cops kill a lot of innocent people.
Just what we need. Another fake tough guy wannabe law enforcement jock sniffer.
No. Are you a doped Libertarian?
I really think we need to change our laws."
Ain't gunna happin
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