ATLANTA, Georgia (AP) -- The niece of a 92-year-old woman shot to death by police said her aunt likely had reason to shoot three narcotics investigators as they stormed her house.
Police insisted the officers did everything right before entering the home Tuesday evening, despite suggestions from the woman's neighbors and relatives that it was a case of mistaken identity.
The woman, Kathryn Johnston, was the only resident in the house at the time and had lived there for about 17 years, Assistant Chief Alan Dreher said.
The officers had a legal warrant, "knocked and announced" before they forced open the door and were justified in shooting once fired upon, he said.
Sarah Dozier, the niece, told WAGA-TV that there were never drugs at the house.
"My aunt was in good health. I'm sure she panicked when they kicked that door down," Dozier said. "There was no reason they had to go in there and shoot her down like a dog."
As the plainclothes Atlanta police officers approached the house about 7 p.m., a woman inside started shooting, striking each of them, said Officer Joe Cobb, a police spokesman.
One was hit in the arm, another in a thigh and the third in a shoulder. The officers were taken to a hospital for treatment, and all three were conscious and alert, police said.
The Rev. Markel Hutchins, a civil rights leader, said Johnston's family deserves an apology.
"Of the police brutality cases we've had, this is the most egregious because of the woman's age," Hutchins said.
Hutchins said he would try to meet with Atlanta Police Chief Richard Pennington and would also meet with lawyers.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/11/22/woman.shot.ap/index.html
This is why this asinine "war" on drugs needs to end. They broke into her house. Too bad she wasn't better armed.
You've lived in the same neighborhood for twenty years. You've seen the neighborhood sinking down into lawlessness. You hear the gunfire ringing out night after night.
Three guys in street clothes bang on your door after dark claiming to be cops. After "knocking", they do their best to kick the door in. They have a hard time taking the door down (a testament to the way houses were built in the old days). As they're trying to kick the door in, how do you respond?
After seeing the reports, I'd say Hotlanta PD has some explaining to do. Is it normal for non-uniformed personnel to execute narcotics search warrants after dark? Did they even have the right address? If so, then how did they get that address?
Police insisted the officers did everything right before entering the home Tuesday evening, despite suggestions from the woman's neighbors and relatives that it was a case of mistaken identity.
The woman, Kathryn Johnston, was the only resident in the house at the time and had lived there for about 17 years, Assistant Chief Alan Dreher said.
The officers had a legal warrant, "knocked and announced" before they forced open the door and were justified in shooting once fired upon, he said.
Sarah Dozier, the niece, told WAGA-TV that there were never drugs at the house.
"My aunt was in good health. I'm sure she panicked when they kicked that door down," Dozier said. "There was no reason they had to go in there and shoot her down like a dog."
As the plainclothes Atlanta police officers approached the house about 7 p.m., a woman inside started shooting, striking each of them, said Officer Joe Cobb, a police spokesman.
One was hit in the arm, another in a thigh and the third in a shoulder. The officers were taken to a hospital for treatment, and all three were conscious and alert, police said.
The Rev. Markel Hutchins, a civil rights leader, said Johnston's family deserves an apology.
"Of the police brutality cases we've had, this is the most egregious because of the woman's age," Hutchins said.
Hutchins said he would try to meet with Atlanta Police Chief Richard Pennington and would also meet with lawyers.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/11/22/woman.shot.ap/index.html
This is why this asinine "war" on drugs needs to end. They broke into her house. Too bad she wasn't better armed.
You've lived in the same neighborhood for twenty years. You've seen the neighborhood sinking down into lawlessness. You hear the gunfire ringing out night after night.
Three guys in street clothes bang on your door after dark claiming to be cops. After "knocking", they do their best to kick the door in. They have a hard time taking the door down (a testament to the way houses were built in the old days). As they're trying to kick the door in, how do you respond?
After seeing the reports, I'd say Hotlanta PD has some explaining to do. Is it normal for non-uniformed personnel to execute narcotics search warrants after dark? Did they even have the right address? If so, then how did they get that address?
