Posted on 2/7/2007, 11:26:10 PM by rawhide
Fulton DA seeks charges in shooting of 92-year-old woman in her home
The Fulton County district attorney will seek felony murder charges against at least one of the three Atlanta police officers who shot and killed an elderly woman in a botched drug raid, according to one of the officer's attorneys.
Defense attorney Rand Csehy, who is representing Gregg Junnier, said he received an e-mail message from District Attorney Paul Howard's office today saying the DA would seek charges before a grand jury Feb. 26.
"It's an overbroad indictment," said an angry Csehy. He said that Howard's office has "broken with the federal government. Paul Howard is no longer part of a joint investigation."
Csehy said that his client had been cooperating with authorities.
On Nov. 21, three narcotics officers went to the home of Kathryn Johnston, 92, to execute a "no knock" warrant. A shootout ensued during which Johnston was killed and the three officers were injured.
"No knock" warrants are frequently issued so police can get inside before suspects can destroy or flush any drugs. When the officers kicked in the door, the elderly woman apparently got off five shots from her own revolver, hitting all three police officers.
Friends and family members of Johnston contended that she was a feeble and frightened woman, who rarely ventured outside after dark and knew few people. And they say that she was never involved in any drug activity.
The three officers, Gregg Junnier, Gary A. Smith and Cary A. Bond, were put on administrative leave.
(Excerpt) Read more at ajc.com ...
When the officers kicked in the door, the (92-year-old) elderly woman apparently got off five shots from her own revolver, hitting all three police officers
Just damn.
And you're saying your Grandma doesn't pack? /sarc
Excuse me ? They bust the door down, she pulls a revolver and starts blasting, they kill her returning fire, and this somehow a murder ? A tragic accident, at worst.
Something is *definitely* fishy here.
If she had survived and the cops died, you can bet she would be charged with murder.
I feel much safer in a world where swat teams conduct no-knock raids on 92 year old women. Those drug dealers and terrorist know we're serious now!
possibly of banglist "worst case scenario" interest
The article doesn't mention the fact they got their drug info from some informant who has apparently become a ghost.
Those of us who have to listen to Atlanta news are not surprised by what happened.
And I'm sorry she was killed but at least she got them too.
Imagine having to tell everybody you were shot by a 92 year old woman.
End the war on drugs and stop no knock raids.
Excuse me ? They bust the door down, she pulls a revolver and starts blasting, they kill her returning fire, and this somehow a murder ...!
Yea,it's Murder,,it was the wrong friggin' house...
There are alot of people in this country that would shoot you if you knocked down their door to get in,,as far as mine,,knock first
There's been speculation on the Atlanta media that she may have hit one officer and the others shot each other in the excitement.
I presume that can be proved one way or the other.
No knock raids should be illegal except in life-threatening situations. The WOD is the case where the cure is worse than the disease.
BS!! We live rural and you can bet your sweet bippy that if someone starts crashing my door down, they're going to be mincemeat. And, you can take that to the bank farlander.
"When the officers kicked in the door, the (92-year-old) elderly woman apparently got off five shots from her own revolver, hitting all three police officers"
Is that what happened? Or did they screw it up and create a scenario to save their butts?
BS!! We live rural and you can bet your sweet bippy that if someone starts crashing my door down, they're going to be mincemeat. And, you can take that to the bank farlander.
It was clearly felony murder. They were at the wrong house (and apparently obtained the warrant by virtue of perjured testimony).
YOu are ONE sick person.
When they go out to play "Cowboys and Civilians", someone usually gets dead. These cops also tried to get their "informant" to change his story after the fact and they got caught doing so, if I remember correctly.
Your not making light of it. There was a very long thread about this incident when it first broke where several folks, myself included, commented on her good shooting. I for one am glad to hear that that a grand jury will hear murder charges. They should put the moronic judge that signed the warrant on trial also.
Good, nice to know that justice is not completely dead and gone.
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