Death by Cop 2022-2024
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Kathryn Johnston
Gender : Female
Age : 92
Race : Black
Date : 11/21/2006
Location : 933 Neal Street NW
City : Atlanta
County : Fulton
State : Georgia
Agency : Atlanta Police Department
Officer(s) :Jason R. Smith, Gregg Junnier, Arthur Tesler
Cause of Death : Gunshot
Event : Killed by police during no-knock raid
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
On November 21, 2006, Kathryn Johnston, a 92-year-old African American woman, was killed during a botched drug raid at her home on Neal Street NW in Atlanta, Georgia. Officers of the Atlanta Police Department forcibly entered her residence using a no-knock warrant obtained through fabricated information. Police falsely claimed to have evidence of drug activity, including an alleged drug buy by a nonexistent informant.
When police breached her door, Johnston, believing her home was being invaded, fired a single warning shot from her revolver, which struck no one. Officers responded with 39 gunshots, striking Johnston multiple times and killing her. In the chaos, officers were injured by their own ricocheting bullet fragments from their barrage of gunfire. After realizing their mistake, officers handcuffed Johnston as she lay bleeding on the floor, where she later died. To cover up their actions, officers planted marijuana in her basement to frame her as a drug dealer.
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PLANTING EVIDENCE
There was no marijuana. The officers handcuffed Ms. Johnston and left her to bleed and die on the floor of her own home while they planted marijuana in her basement to “find” it later.
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THE TRIAL
A federal judge sent three cops to prison for their roles in the raid on Johnston’s Neal Street home. The judge said performance quotas influenced the officers’ behavior.
“It is my fervent hope the Atlanta Police Department will take to heart what has happened here,” U.S. District Judge Julie Carnes said. After conducting an emotional two-day hearing, Carnes sentenced former officers Gregg Junnier, Jason R. Smith and Arthur Bruce Tesler to prison.
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THE OFFICERS
- Officer Gregg Junnier pleaded guilty to federal charges of conspiracy to violate civil rights resulting in death and also faced related state charges. He was sentenced to six years in federal prison in 2009, with three years of supervised release afterward. His cooperation in the investigation of broader misconduct within the Atlanta Police Department led to significant reforms and additional convictions of other officers.
- Officer Jason R. Smith, one of the former Atlanta Police Department officers involved in the fatal shooting of 92-year-old Kathryn Johnston, was sentenced in 2009 to 10 years in federal prison for conspiracy to violate civil rights resulting in death. This sentence was served concurrently with state charges, including voluntary manslaughter and perjury, to which he also pleaded guilty. Smith began cooperating with investigators to a limited extent during the broader inquiry into misconduct within the Atlanta Police Department, which led to further charges against other officers. After serving his sentence, he would have been released around 2019, as there is no parole in the federal system. However, specific details about his life or activities following his release are not readily available from public records.
- Officer Arthur Tesler, one of the Atlanta police officers involved in the 2006 killing of Kathryn Johnston during a botched drug raid, was sentenced to five years in federal prison. Tesler was also required to complete probation and community service upon release. Details about the exact amount of time Tesler served in prison or his current whereabouts after release are not readily available from public records.
At the hearing, Tesler’s lawyer had provided examples of other Atlanta police officers who broke the rules or violated the law and said a disturbing culture of misconduct pervades the force.
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Police Reforms
The public outrage following Johnston's death prompted significant reforms within the Atlanta Police Department regarding the use of no-knock warrants:
1. Tightened Oversight: Officers were required to obtain approval from both a senior police official and a judge before executing no-knock warrants.
2. Policy Restrictions: Stricter justification and higher evidentiary standards were instituted for approving such warrants.
3. Increased Accountability: Officers involved in warrant applications faced enhanced internal oversight to ensure compliance and truthful reporting.
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No-Knock Raids under Scrutiny
Reforms sparked broader discussions about the legality and dangers of no-knock warrants, influencing changes in other jurisdictions. However, critics argue that deeper systemic changes are necessary to address the root causes of police misconduct and excessive force.
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Civil Lawsuit and Settlement
Johnston’s family filed a wrongful death and civil rights lawsuit against the City of Atlanta and the officers involved. In August 2010, the city agreed to a $4.9 million settlement, one of the largest payouts for police misconduct at the time. The settlement was paid in two parts: $2.9 million upfront and the remaining $2 million by the end of 2012.
Johnston’s death remains a pivotal case in the debate over police accountability and the use of aggressive tactics such as no-knock warrants.
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SOURCE LINKS :
https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna18328267
http://reason.com/archives/2007/11/23/kathryn-johnston-a-year-later
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/cop-convicted-of-lying-about-shootout/
https://www.aclu.org/other/kathryn-johnston-and-police-system-failure
