Rep. Lewis wants 'full investigation' into elderly woman's death

By Robert "Rob" Redding Jr.

Publisher

May 4, 2007, 9:30 a.m. - U.S. Rep. John Lewis today said he wants a "full investigation" into the death of an elderly Atlanta woman killed in a police raid.

Kathryn Johnston,92, was shot by police last year after authorities said they received information about drugs being sold at her home. Two officers have since plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter after admitting that they tried to force an informant to tell authorities drugs were being sold at her home.

“In recent weeks there have been several shootings of ordinary citizens by several police departments in metropolitan Atlanta," Lewis said. "The murder of Kathryn Johnston is the most tragic. It is unreal. It is unbelievable that someone can live to be almost 100 years old, serve our society honorably, and be shot down in her home by officers of the law—members of the Atlanta police department. I think it is critically important that the state of Georgia, the city of Atlanta, the Fulton County District Attorney’s office, the Department of Justice and the FBI conduct thorough investigations to discover the causes of this misconduct at its roots."

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Lewis' statement comes as Alex White, an informant in the case, who says police tried to force him to lie, visited members of the House Judiciary Committee to tell his side of the story.

“I see the shooting and killing of Ms. Johnston as one piece of a larger puzzle that calls for a complete and full investigation to include the use of informants, the obtaining of questionable warrants, the possible planting of drugs by officers of the law, the allegations of a cover-up, and the use of excessive force in the Atlanta police force," Lewis said. "The credibility of the police department is at stake. Citizens must have confidence that the police department is there to protect and defend their rights, not to violate them. We must utilize every means at our disposal, both federally and locally, to ensure that this kind of injustice never, ever happens again.”

WXIA-TV reports that two more officers: "former narcotics officers Gregg Junnier and Jason R. Smith pleaded guilty to manslaughter to avoid a murder trial in the case. Both will receive from 10 to 12 years in prison in exchange for their testimony about other possible corruption in the Atlanta Police Department's narcotics squad.

"A third officer, Arthur Tesler, plans to fight charges that he made false statements to investigators and violated his oath of office. He remains on the force, but is on administrative leave without pay."

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