Some further info on the 92 year old woman killed by police during a no-knock raid in Fulton County Ga.
Immediately after the incident it was being reported that she “opened fire” on UNIFORMED officers and that “[o]ne 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.” It was also reported that drugs were recover at the scene. [1]
This makes it sound like the she hit the officers with gun fire and that, while it may not have been her using or selling drugs, someone may have been.
However, the truth behind the story sounds more like an action film complete with police cover-up.
In fact, two of the officers involved (Gregg Junnier, 40, and Jason R. Smith, 35) have plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter, violation of oath by a public officer, criminal solicitation, making false statements and civil rights conspiracy. In exchange for cooperating with a federal corruption probe, prosecutors dropped state murder charges against Smith and Junnier, meaning they will avoid life in prison. Sentences have not been set, but Junnier, who retired from the force in January, is expected to get about 10 years in prison; Smith, who is on administrative leave, is expected to be sentenced to about 12 years. [2]
As it turns out:
“On the night of Nov. 21, plainclothes Atlanta police officers burst through the front door of Kathryn Johnston's home after obtaining a no-knock warrant based on false information that drugs were sold there.
Johnston fired a single shot from a .38-caliber revolver, according to the Fulton County prosecutor. Ballistic evidence showed that she did not hit any of the six officers, but that they fired 39 shots, striking Johnston five or six times, including a fatal blow to her chest.
Assistant U.S. Atty. Yonette Sam-Buchanan said officers lied to a magistrate to get the no-knock warrant, claiming that a confidential informant had made a purchase at the address and that the house was fitted with electronic surveillance.
After the shooting, Smith allegedly planted three bags of marijuana in the basement of Johnston's home and then called an informant to ask him to pretend the three officers had sent him to the address earlier to purchase drugs.
The next day, Smith and Junnier allegedly met to fabricate a story before meeting the department's homicide detectives.” [3]
So let’s recap. Plain cloths officers lied to obtain a warrant based on false information (likely bought) from an informant, burst into a home with no announcement of who they were, and then gunned down a woman who legitimately thought she was defending herself (probably against a home invasion). Once they realize their mistake they plant evidence and conjure up a false story.
IMHO, this is a prime example why no-knock warrants need to be outlawed.
Sources:
[1]
http://www.wsbtv.com/news/10374909/detail.html
[2]
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/...2-year-old-woman-killed-in-botched-drug-raid/
[3]
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationw...7apr27,0,6937951.story?coll=la-home-headlines
