3 cops shot by 92 year old woman

KK

Lifer
Jan 2, 2001
15,903
4
81
News link.

Three Atlanta Police Officers Shot By Elderly Woman
(WSB Radio) Three Atlanta Police officers are recovering at Grady Hospital after they were shot in northwest Atlanta by an elderly woman.

Deputy Chief Alan Dreher says they were trying to serve a drug warrant at a home at 933 Neal Street just before 8 o'clock Tuesday night.

"As they knocked and announced their presence and forced the door open, it took some type to get the door forced. Once the door was forced open, a female perpetrator inside the premises began to fire at the officers, the officers returned fire," said Dreher.

"As a result of the exchange of gunfire, three of our investigators were hit by gunshots. One of our investigators received a graze wound to the face. He was shot in his bullet-proof vest, and he received a gunshot wound to the left leg. Another one of our investigators received a gunshot wound to the left leg, and the third investigator received a gunshot wound to his right arm," said Dreher.

The woman killed has been identified as 92-year-old Kathryn Johnston. She had lived there nearly 20 years.

Dreher says their agents, who were in plain clothes, have been on the force for some time, and were justified in the shooting.

"It looks like everything was done by the book. They had a search warrant. It was for the proper address. They knocked and announced and they forced the door when there was no response at the door," said Dreher.

Johnston's niece, Sara Dozier of Fayette County, said her aunt was only trying to protect herself from a neighborhood where there is a lot of criminal activity.

"I'm sure she panicked. Just two weeks ago, it was on the news, somebody kicked the door in and yelled 'Arrest: Fulton County Sheriffs.' It was a break-in, a robbery, and I'm sure all of this went through her mind," said Dozier.

Johnston says her aunt never had anything to do with drugs.

"My aunt has never seen a drug, not to mention take one. The lady lived a good, clean, wholesome life, and they go in there and shoot her down like a dog," said Johnston.

"The only thing that is in that house is a laxative. My aunt takes a laxative every other day. She's a firm believer that if you flush the system, the system does not break down. There's nothing else in there," said Johnston.

Dreher said they were serving a narcotics warrant there because they believed drugs were being sold in the house.

"I'm as mad as hell. The neighbors know where the drugs are, damn it, ask the neighbors! They killed her. They shot her down like a dog and I'm upset. Somebody is going to answer to it, because I'm going to sue like hell! I'm going to sue like hell. Let Atlanta know that," said Johnston.

I hope they sue the fvck out of the atlanta police force. Someone need to get their ass fired for this ******, and the judge that signed the search warrant needs to be relieved of his position.
 

ayabe

Diamond Member
Aug 10, 2005
7,449
0
0
This happens more often then people think, however, you shouldn't open fire when the police are coming in.
 
Feb 10, 2000
30,029
67
91
Originally posted by: KK

I hope they sue the fvck out of the atlanta police force. Someone need to get their ass fired for this ******, and the judge that signed the search warrant needs to be relieved of his position.

They will almost certainly sue, but let's wait until we know more of the facts. It may be that there was in fact drug activity going on in the house without her knowledge. One thing I am quite sure of is that the police wouldn't have killed a 92-year-old woman if she hadn't started shooting at them.
 

KK

Lifer
Jan 2, 2001
15,903
4
81
I don't fault the police for returning fire, I fault who ever issued that search warrant. Yes there may be more to this story, but looking at it from just the story given, there is room to be pissed.
 

imported_Aelius

Golden Member
Apr 25, 2004
1,988
0
0
Originally posted by: DonVito
Originally posted by: KK

I hope they sue the fvck out of the atlanta police force. Someone need to get their ass fired for this ******, and the judge that signed the search warrant needs to be relieved of his position.

They will almost certainly sue, but let's wait until we know more of the facts. It may be that there was in fact drug activity going on in the house without her knowledge. One thing I am quite sure of is that the police wouldn't have killed a 92-year-old woman if she hadn't started shooting at them.

Plain clothes officers. I wonder if there is any witness that heard them yell "Police" when they entered.
 

Genx87

Lifer
Apr 8, 2002
41,091
513
126
I dont have a problem with their actions if they did it by the book. However it does worry me they werent in official uniform. Wearing street clothes is a bad idea, nobody can trust anybody wearing street clothes.

 
Feb 10, 2000
30,029
67
91
Originally posted by: dmcowen674
Thread Title needs a little work.

In summary should at least say they shot her dead like a dog for no good reason.

Shooting at a police officer does not matter?

What the hell are you talking about? Is having someone shoot you "no good reason" for returning fire?

----------------------------------
His last sentence in the quote was an accidental Moderator entry :eek:- however, it should have been an unique post by the member.

The sentiment still stands.

Anandtech Moderator
 

dmcowen674

No Lifer
Oct 13, 1999
54,889
47
91
www.alienbabeltech.com
Originally posted by: DonVito
Originally posted by: dmcowen674
Thread Title needs a little work.

In summary should at least say they shot her dead like a dog for no good reason.

Shooting at a police officer does not matter?

What the hell are you talking about? Is having someone shoot you "no good reason" for returning fire?

They invaded a private home, yes they should expect gunfire.
 

EagleKeeper

Discussion Club Moderator<br>Elite Member
Staff member
Oct 30, 2000
42,589
5
0
Originally posted by: dmcowen674
Originally posted by: DonVito
Originally posted by: dmcowen674
Thread Title needs a little work.

In summary should at least say they shot her dead like a dog for no good reason.

Shooting at a police officer does not matter?

What the hell are you talking about? Is having someone shoot you "no good reason" for returning fire?

They invaded a private home, yes they should expect gunfire.
And the police should have not returned fire? They were hit.
No where does it state that they went in firing first.

Very confusing. They should stand around twiddling their thumbs?

What would have recommended that they do? - They apparently had a search warrant for the location.

 

Genx87

Lifer
Apr 8, 2002
41,091
513
126
Originally posted by: dmcowen674
Originally posted by: DonVito
Originally posted by: dmcowen674
Thread Title needs a little work.

In summary should at least say they shot her dead like a dog for no good reason.

Shooting at a police officer does not matter?

What the hell are you talking about? Is having someone shoot you "no good reason" for returning fire?

They invaded a private home, yes they should expect gunfire.

They had a proper search warrant issued by the courts.
The plain clothes thing worries me however.
 

umbrella39

Lifer
Jun 11, 2004
13,816
1,126
126
I also just heard on the radio that a week or so ago, the house was broken into and robbed by men claiming to be police. Who knows if that is true or not but it would give a least some history to this woman's shot first policy.
 

dmcowen674

No Lifer
Oct 13, 1999
54,889
47
91
www.alienbabeltech.com
Originally posted by: EagleKeeper
Originally posted by: dmcowen674
Originally posted by: DonVito
Originally posted by: dmcowen674
Thread Title needs a little work.

In summary should at least say they shot her dead like a dog for no good reason.

Shooting at a police officer does not matter?

What the hell are you talking about? Is having someone shoot you "no good reason" for returning fire?

They invaded a private home, yes they should expect gunfire.
And the police should have not returned fire? They were hit.
No where does it state that they went in firing first.

Very confusing. They should stand around twiddling their thumbs?

What would have recommended that they do? - They apparently had a search warrant for the location.

Well, not bashing down the door of a 92 yr old Grandmother for starters.

Why the hell else do you think she shot first??? :confused:
 

EagleKeeper

Discussion Club Moderator<br>Elite Member
Staff member
Oct 30, 2000
42,589
5
0
Originally posted by: dmcowen674
Originally posted by: EagleKeeper
Originally posted by: dmcowen674
Originally posted by: DonVito
Originally posted by: dmcowen674
Thread Title needs a little work.

In summary should at least say they shot her dead like a dog for no good reason.

Shooting at a police officer does not matter?

What the hell are you talking about? Is having someone shoot you "no good reason" for returning fire?

They invaded a private home, yes they should expect gunfire.
And the police should have not returned fire? They were hit.
No where does it state that they went in firing first.

Very confusing. They should stand around twiddling their thumbs?

What would have recommended that they do? - They apparently had a search warrant for the location.

Well, not bashing down the door of a 92 yr old Grandmother for starters.

Why the hell else do you think she shot first??? :confused:
Why was there a search warrant for drugs?

 

dmcowen674

No Lifer
Oct 13, 1999
54,889
47
91
www.alienbabeltech.com
Originally posted by: EagleKeeper
Originally posted by: dmcowen674
Originally posted by: EagleKeeper
Originally posted by: dmcowen674
Originally posted by: DonVito
Originally posted by: dmcowen674
Thread Title needs a little work.

In summary should at least say they shot her dead like a dog for no good reason.

Shooting at a police officer does not matter?

What the hell are you talking about? Is having someone shoot you "no good reason" for returning fire?

They invaded a private home, yes they should expect gunfire.
And the police should have not returned fire? They were hit.
No where does it state that they went in firing first.

Very confusing. They should stand around twiddling their thumbs?

What would have recommended that they do? - They apparently had a search warrant for the location.

Well, not bashing down the door of a 92 yr old Grandmother for starters.

Why the hell else do you think she shot first??? :confused:
Why was there a search warrant for drugs?

You tell me, it's your heroes waging the phoney war on drugs.
 

Arkaign

Lifer
Oct 27, 2006
20,736
1,379
126
Another painful example of the wasteful and destructive nature of the B.S. war on drugs.

These cops were just doing what they were told to do, and it was the wrong thing to do. Unfortunately, the law is on the wrong side of common sense here.

If cops weren't forced to waste most of their man hours working on drug-related crap, maybe they could focus their attention on real threats :

Rapists
Murderers
Child Molesters
Congressmen

Etc.

Outlawing drugs is nothing more than a self-serving power grab by corrupt government officials. By it's very nature, it's bound to induce corruption at all levels. And why would agencies dedicated to the particular focus of drugs ever care about STOPPING them? They'd be out of a job.

Don't forget the CIA's long and well-documented history of dealing drugs.
 

GoPackGo

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 2003
6,503
564
126
They were executing a warrant.

They knocked and announced.

They came in.

The lady starts firing, hitting three officers.

They police did the right thing on all accounts.

Now if the DA gave the wrong address, then the DA needs to face the music. Not the Police.
 

JD50

Lifer
Sep 4, 2005
11,834
2,613
136
:thumbsup:
Originally posted by: GoPackGo
They were executing a warrant.

They knocked and announced.

They came in.

The lady starts firing, hitting three officers.

They police did the right thing on all accounts.

Now if the DA gave the wrong address, then the DA needs to face the music. Not the Police.

 

Arkaign

Lifer
Oct 27, 2006
20,736
1,379
126
Originally posted by: GoPackGo
They were executing a warrant.

They knocked and announced.

They came in.

The lady starts firing, hitting three officers.

They police did the right thing on all accounts.

Now if the DA gave the wrong address, then the DA needs to face the music. Not the Police.

Agreed, other than the possibility that they didn't knock or announce. It's been proven on a multitude of other instances where the police did not knock or annouce,

I don't have a problem with the officers or their actions, as they were merely doing their jobs.

I do have a problem with stupid, wasteful, destructive policy such as the so-called drug war's web of death and lies. It creates tragic situations like this, and I cannot fathom any benefit to the constant waste of money and lives.
 

GoPackGo

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 2003
6,503
564
126
Originally posted by: Arkaign
Originally posted by: GoPackGo
They were executing a warrant.

They knocked and announced.

They came in.

The lady starts firing, hitting three officers.

They police did the right thing on all accounts.

Now if the DA gave the wrong address, then the DA needs to face the music. Not the Police.

Agreed, other than the possibility that they didn't knock or announce. It's been proven on a multitude of other instances where the police did not knock or annouce,

I don't have a problem with the officers or their actions, as they were merely doing their jobs.

I do have a problem with stupid, wasteful, destructive policy such as the so-called drug war's web of death and lies. It creates tragic situations like this, and I cannot fathom any benefit to the constant waste of money and lives.

The only way they shouldn't have knocked is if they had a no knock warrant...approved by a judge.
 

umbrella39

Lifer
Jun 11, 2004
13,816
1,126
126
I really just wish they would drop this ill-fated "war on drugs" and legalize already. It is not a war worth fighting. No one has ever stopped their drug habit due to the "stigma" society places on them or the fear of jail. May as well make some money on it like they do the other legal drugs like nicotine and alcohol.
 

blackllotus

Golden Member
May 30, 2005
1,875
0
0
Originally posted by: dmcowen674
In summary should at least say they shot her dead like a dog for no good reason.

Were they supposed to just stand there while being shot at?
 

Conky

Lifer
May 9, 2001
10,709
0
0
Originally posted by: blackllotus
Originally posted by: dmcowen674
In summary should at least say they shot her dead like a dog for no good reason.

Were they supposed to just stand there while being shot at?
Yes.

And the cops were racist for bleeding. :p

 

crownjules

Diamond Member
Jul 7, 2005
4,858
0
76
Originally posted by: dmcowen674
Well, not bashing down the door of a 92 yr old Grandmother for starters.

Why the hell else do you think she shot first??? :confused:

They don't discriminate between 22 year olds or 92 year olds for a reason. As far as they're concerned, they have a warrant to serve and they need to get in there because warrants expire in a relatively short time period (24-48 hours I think?). They announce themselves and first ask to be let it. They force themselves in after a few moments because they do not want suspects to take off, flush evidence, etc. knowing that the police are at the door.

It's unfortunate that she shot first, but the police had the right to defend themselves and were merely following orders. If it's true about the robbers claiming they were police, that just adds to the tragedy.
 

halik

Lifer
Oct 10, 2000
25,696
1
0
Originally posted by: ayabe
This happens more often then people think, however, you shouldn't open fire when the police are coming in.

I would say the same thing, except the cops weren't in uniform... If some guy in jeans and tshirt kicks my door down, I'd be shooting too.