Grandmother shot by police case revisited

[Diesel66]

http://www.11alive.com/news/news_art...?storyid=90307

11Alive News has learned from sources that Fulton County’s district attorney will pursue criminal charges against police officers in the death of Kathryn Johnson.

It was a no-knock warrant that was being served by Atlanta narcotics officers when Kathryn Johnston was shot and killed. The officers claimed that Johnston opened fire on them when they entered her home.

On Wednesday, law enforcement sources confirmed that three or four of the officers involved in the shooting could face state charges from District Attorney Paul Howard’s office -- possibly up to and including murder.

Questions arose after the November shooting on Neal Street in northwest Atlanta about the information Atlanta narcotics officers used to obtain the no-knock warrant to enter Johnston’s home.

Officers say they had to pry burglar bars off her front door before barging in. That apparently gave Johnston enough time to arm herself in self-defense.

What happened after that is still unclear, but sources say the actions of at least some of the officers serving the warrant could result in murder charges.

So far, the FBI has been leading the investigation into the case. But sources say that U.S. Attorney David Nahmias and Fulton County D.A. Paul Howard will meet to discuss the investigation results, and that it is all but concluded that the charges will come from Howard’s office.

11Alive News has also learned that Howard will take the investigation into the shooting to a Grand Jury in the near future.

Howard and Nahmias will not release the results of the investigation until that Grand Jury returns indictments. Family spokesperson Rev. Markel Hutchins pushed for a federal investigation originally.

“This family has never sought vengeance,” Hutchins said. “What they sought was justice.”

Sources say the case could go to a Fulton County Grand Jury in the next week or two. Now that doesn’t necessarily mean there will be no federal charges brought in the case. According to sources, federal civil rights charges are pending the outcome of the case the state brings against the officers.

Police break into her home after lying to get a warrant and murder a woman defending herself. Glad some justice will come out of this

[lew]

Me too.


I'm waiting to hear the pro-police people come in here and still defend these pigs.

[AVengeance]

None? Wow. I caught all kinds of shit when I posted this after it happened.

[Donkey®]

I guess I would be considered "Pro police". I only defended them because you guys were trashing them without ANY real proof. If charges are brought against them and they are found guilty of breaking the law, good...they got what they deserve. Until then, making comments of innocence or guilt is pretty stupid.