The Atlanta Police Department confirmed what the community already suspected in the police killing of an elderly African American woman on Nov. 21. At least one police officer admitted to lying about purchasing narcotics at Kathryn Johnston’s home, according to federal investigators.
Startled and frightened when her front door was broken down, Johnston responded with gunfire. The police shot back,
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Previously, two police officers claimed that they had a confidential informant purchase crack at Johnston’s Neal St. home in the working-class, mostly African American neighborhood in northwest Atlanta. But another officer, Jason R. Smith, who was wounded during the shooting, told investigators that the cops pursued getting a “no-knock” warrant without any evidence of drug dealing.
The officers could now face serious charges for making the false statement to secure the no-knock warrant. They also face charges for making false statements to a judge.
The police lied to the judge who issued the warrant even after Alex White, a previous police informant, was unable to attempt a drug purchase at Johnston’s house. The police told White to lie and say he did, in fact, make a purchase when he hadn’t. White did what the police wanted after being pressured to do so.
White came forward about this a day after the cops killed Johnston. After jumping out of a squad car on Nov. 22, White told a 911 emergency operator: “I have two cops chasing me. They’re on the dirty side, two undercover officers.”
“I’m outraged about how things went down on Nov. 21,” said African American state senator Vincent Fort at a Jan. 10 town hall meeting about Johnston’s shooting. The meeting drew a large crowd of angry community members. Dozens of speakers focused their anger on the racist actions of the police.
Fort is pursuing legislation to tighten laws on the use of no-knock warrants, which are employed in a racist manner against African Americans and other oppressed communities.
