I couldn't find the original postings concerning this story. I originally defended these officers - but it sounds like the woman deserved better and these particular ex-officers should never have been allowed to wear a badge. http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/042707/met_126280.shtml 2 officers wait to be sentenced ------------------------------ Associated Press Friday, April 27, 20072 commentsPRINTEMAIL ATLANTA - Two police officers pleaded guilty Thursday to federal and state charges, including manslaughter, in the shooting death of a 92-year-old woman during a botched drug raid last fall. A third officer still faces charges in the woman's death. Atlanta police officer J.R. Smith (left) and retired Atlanta police officer Gregg Junnier pleaded guilty to manslaughter, violation of oath, criminal solicitation and making false statements in the death of 92-year-old Kathryn Johnston. Click photo for options"I'm sorry," said 35-year-old Officer J.R. Smith, his voice barely audible. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter, violation of oath, criminal solicitation, making false statements, and perjury, which was based on untrue claims in a warrant. Former Officer Gregg Junnier, 40, who retired from the Atlanta police force in January, pleaded guilty to manslaughter, violation of oath, criminal solicitation and making false statements. In a hearing later in federal court, each man pleaded guilty to a single charge of conspiracy to violate a person's civil rights, resulting in death. U.S. Attorney David Nahmias told The Associated Press the recommended federal sentence for Mr. Junnier will be 10 years and one month in prison. He said the recommended federal sentence for Officer Smith would be 12 years, seven months. The state and federal sentences are expected to run concurrently for both men. As part of the plea agreement, if both defendants provide substantial assistance to the federal government, prosecutors have agreed to recommend the judge impose a lower sentence. U.S. District Judge Julie Carnes did not immediately set a date for sentencing but agreed to a $25,000 bond for Mr. Junnier pending sentencing. The charges followed a Nov. 21 "no-knock" drug raid at Kathryn Johnston's home. An informant had described buying drugs from a dealer there, police said. When the officers burst in, Ms. Johnston fired at them, and they fired back, killing her. Fulton County prosecutor Peter Johnson disclosed Thursday that the officers involved in Ms. Johnston's death fired 39 shots, striking her five or six times, including a fatal blow to the chest. He said Ms. Johnston fired only once through her door and didn't hit any of the officers. That means the officers who were wounded likely were hit by their colleagues, he said. Mr. Junnier and Officer Smith, who is on administrative leave, had been charged in an indictment unsealed earlier Thursday with felony murder, violation of oath by a public officer, criminal solicitation, burglary, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and making false statements. The third officer, Arthur Tesler, also on administrative leave, was charged with violation of oath by a public officer, making false statements and false imprisonment under color of legal process. His attorney, William McKenney, said Officer Tesler expects to go to trial. Mr. Junnier and Officer Smith could have faced up to life in prison had they been convicted of murder.
A "no-knock" drug raid huh? I wonder if the DA and police chief will rethink that little gem of a policy. Bunch'a overzealous idiots! If there aren't enough drugs in a house to prevent flushing them down a toilet, then police don't need to be "raiding" it in the first place.
I called the woman a hero, and I am happy to see that they were found to be in the wrong. I hope that the people who grant the "No Knock" warrants take a hard look at this case.
I think she was also hard if hearing. Imagine at age 92 not being able to identify someone storming your apartment.
She lived alone, the cops were not in uniform, and they were breaking into her house. What would you have done?
Im kind of riding the fence on this one, On one side the cops should have never shot her 5-6 times, especially if she only fired once. But then again what did shes expect when she fired the gun no matter who was on the other side shes shot at them did she think they would be like well sorry mam wrong house.. So I am not sure which side to take yet.. I know not very good
So you would have them knock on the door and get shot through the door? A "no-knock" is to gain the upper hand.
People seem to forget that the reason for the warrant was because her darling grandson was selling dope right in front of her nose out of that house.
Then I suggest you not have a gun then, if you can't hear someone identifying themselves as police. :roll:
Do you have anything to back up that statement? I don't think there is any evidence anyone was actually selling drugs from the house, and I believe at least one of the officers was charged with making false statements.
Two police officers pleaded guilty Thursday to manslaughter and other charges in the shooting death of a 92-year-old woman during a botched drug raid at her home last fall. Officer J.R. Smith, who also agreed to resign from the police department, told a state judge that he regretted what had happened. "I'm sorry," the 35-year-old said, his voice barely audible. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter, violation of oath, criminal solicitation, making false statements and perjury, which was based on untrue claims in a no-knock warrant obtained to enter Kathryn Johnston's home on Nov. 21.......... It gets better Fulton County prosecutor Peter Johnson said that the officers involved in Johnston's death fired 39 shots, striking her five or six times, including a fatal blow to the chest. Johnston fired only once through her door and didn't hit any of the officers, he said. That means officers who were wounded likely were hit by their own colleagues, he said. Assistant U.S. Attorney Yonette Sam-Buchanan said Thursday that although the officers found no drugs in Johnston's home, Smith planted three bags of marijuana in the home as part of a cover story officers concoted. After the shooting, a man claiming to be the informant told a television station that he had never purchased drugs there, leading Pennington to admit he was uncertain whether the suspected drug dealer actually existed. This was taken from a AP story about this case. She was in her home and "someone" who turned out to be the Police tried to break in. She fired at them, she in my book is a hero. Defending her home from unknown intruders and died in the attack. IF they had been drug dealers or gangbangers everyone here would be screaming that she was right, she was defending her self. It turns out that it was over zealous cops using "no Knock" warrant and then they turned out to be crooked cops to boot planting eviedence..... please she is a hero bottom line. Not on the AP story but just incase you forgot they arrested her grandson for selling cocaine even though none was found.
