Posted on 12/11/2002 12:09:14 PM PST by mhking
[ The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: 12/12/02 ]
Lawsuit filed in police shooting of teen driver
By ERNIE SUGGS Johnnie Cochran, whose firm has represented the family of Corey Ward since shortly after the 18-year-old was shot and killed by an Atlanta police officer in July, promised today to seek justice in the case. "Corey never had any contact with the criminal justice system and he deserves to be alive today," Cochran said. "Corey Ward is all of our sons." Cochran appeared at a late-morning press conference to announce the filing of a lawsuit in Fulton County State Court on behalf of the family of Ward. In his lawsuit, Cochran contends that Atlanta police Officer Raymond Bunn should have been fired for punching a motorist in September 2000. "If the department had done something about Bunn then, he would not have been on the street that night," Cochran said. Ward was shot and killed by Bunn on July 14. Bunn reported that Ward tried to run over him with an SUV. Ward's relatives and others say he wasn't aware that Bunn, who was in plainclothes, was a police officer, and was trying to escape a confrontation. Cochran, who defended O.J. Simpson as well as others involved in high-profile cases, is suing Bunn, Bunn's partner, Terry Mulkey, Chief Richard Pennington and the entire Atlanta Police Department. No monetary figure was listed on the lawsuit. Deputy City Attorney Rosalind Rubens Newell said the city had not seen a copy of the lawsuit Tuesday. The shooting of Ward by Bunn was the second high-profile incident the officer had been in in less than two years. In September 2000, Ylia Lavender scuffled with Bunn and suffered a broken eye socket after he ordered her to turn down her car stereo. She claimed he assaulted her, and she was later acquitted of charges in the case. Cochran was joined at today's press conference with members of Ward's family. "We are here to seek justice," said Ward's grandmother Avis Jones. "Corey was a loving, considering person and we would like to get justice for him. We are all still hurting."
Atlanta Journal-Constitution Staff Writer
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Well, that's not ENTIRELY true... his first contact with the criminal justice system, and his last, came when he tried to run someone over - whether he knew it was a cop or not, he tried to run someone over... and he paid the price.
The officer in question seems to have been a problem in the past. Does anyone have a link where there is more information on this specifc incident?
Later accounts from different sources said that the other people in the vehicle never heard Bunn identify himself and they don't say anything about Bunn being struck. They also mentioned that Bunn had been accused of excessive force six times in the "short time he was assigned to the force." It also said that the charges were later dropped against the other people in the SUV.
The truth probably lies somewhere in between.
This may be true, but perhaps this time he has a point. Have anymore info on the case?
I am also curious if the other five occupants of the car have been charged with anything. If they were breaking into the car, and if I am not mistaken, each of the five could also be charged with felony murder(because the kid died while in commission of a felony, making all participants equally guilty).
Of course...the kid was justified in trying to run over a cop....[/sarcasm]
The original story from WXIA-TV the day after the accident is here: http://www.11alive.com/help/search/search_article.asp?storyid=19182
A few days later, the good Attorney Cochran had been hired and a local pastor had jumped into the fray: http://www.11alive.com/help/search/search_article.asp?storyid=19490
They also shot up a motorcycle store I frequented when they mistook a customer for a thief. 3 eyewitnesses said they saw a plainclothes officier shoot an unarmed customer execution style.
Then there was that series of safe robberies that ended up being the work of the Atlanta police.
My hunch is that the case has legs.
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