# My 90 year old neighbor is shot down by the po-pos **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 22, 2006, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-90-year-old-neighbor-is-shot-down-by-the-po-pos/381392 "2006-11-22T05:07:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 22
**Author:** ![whole\_bean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@whole\_bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whole_bean)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-90-year-old-neighbor-is-shot-down-by-the-po-pos/381392/421 "2007-01-11T20:52:21Z")
it’s been all over the local news that the Da is going after at least some of the officers involved for murder ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-90-year-old-neighbor-is-shot-down-by-the-po-pos/381392/422 "2007-01-11T21:02:07Z")
[QUOTE=whole bean] it’s been all over the local news that the Da is going after at least some of the officers involved for murder [/QUOTE] I said that. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-90-year-old-neighbor-is-shot-down-by-the-po-pos/381392/423 "2007-01-11T22:07:53Z")
From **Askia** ’s most recent link: > [@](#): > > Officers say they had to pry burglar bars off her front door before barging in. That apparently gave Johnston enough time to arm herself in self-defense. Idiots. They are going to claim that they did not have to identify themselves in order to execute a “no knock” search–needed to get into the house swiftly to prevent evidence being destroyed and a perp arming himself–but they could take the time to (presumably loudly) rip protection bars off the house (as if anyone inside would not hear them coming and either/both ditch any evidence and arm themselves)? Faced with an obstacle that required time and noise to remove, the only intelligent response would seem to be to identify oneself as the police. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-90-year-old-neighbor-is-shot-down-by-the-po-pos/381392/424 "2007-01-11T22:27:05Z")
[QUOTE=Askia] HOLY —!!! The Fit’s about the hit the Shan! [/QUOTE] Er, um, we mustn’t jump to conclusions, we should wait until all the facts are in… (dammit, there better be a pony in there somewhere…) ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-90-year-old-neighbor-is-shot-down-by-the-po-pos/381392/425 "2007-01-11T22:31:07Z")
[QUOTE=Fear Itself] (dammit, there better be a pony in there somewhere…) [/QUOTE] Does it do any tricks? ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-90-year-old-neighbor-is-shot-down-by-the-po-pos/381392/426 "2007-01-11T22:32:49Z")
[QUOTE=Fear Itself] Er, um, we mustn’t jump to conclusions, we should wait until all the facts are in… (dammit, there better be a pony in there somewhere…) [/QUOTE] I’m standing still. The conclusions are jumping to ME. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-90-year-old-neighbor-is-shot-down-by-the-po-pos/381392/427 "2007-01-11T22:43:51Z")
> [@Fear Itself](#): > > (dammit, there better be a pony in there somewhere…) > [QUOTE=Lute Skywatcher] > Does it do any tricks? [/quote] just one ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-90-year-old-neighbor-is-shot-down-by-the-po-pos/381392/428 "2007-01-12T09:01:59Z")
Color me unsurprized. ---
**Author:** ![Thalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f475e1/32.png) [@Thalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thalion)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-90-year-old-neighbor-is-shot-down-by-the-po-pos/381392/429 "2007-01-12T10:40:13Z")
Well, shit! If these cops did what is alleged, they need to be fired and prosecuted as quickly as possible. Crap like this makes it really difficult for those of us who really do try to be the “Good Guys”. ---
**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-90-year-old-neighbor-is-shot-down-by-the-po-pos/381392/430 "2007-01-12T15:30:51Z")
I am not pleased to see my cynicism about the police may have been well placed. I do hope that something lasting can come out of this other than an elderly woman’s death. I am relieved that this is being investigated. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-90-year-old-neighbor-is-shot-down-by-the-po-pos/381392/431 "2007-02-08T22:02:38Z")
Well, it seems the District Attorney does not believe the story these police officer gave – he is going to the Grand Jury to seek murder charges against these cops. "Atlanta, Georgia The Fulton County District Attorney will seek murder charges against the three Atlanta police officers involved in the shooting death of 92-year-old Kathryn Johnston. D.A. Paul Howard said he will take the case to a Grand Jury later this month." ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-90-year-old-neighbor-is-shot-down-by-the-po-pos/381392/432 "2007-02-08T22:15:53Z")
Let us all hope that justice prevails. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-90-year-old-neighbor-is-shot-down-by-the-po-pos/381392/433 "2007-02-08T23:47:42Z")
[QUOTE=adam yax] Let us all hope that justice prevails. [/QUOTE] I hope so, too. I know some people interpreted my posts in this thread to mean that I would support the police no matter what, but that is not the case. If these officers are found guilty, I hope they recieve the maximum punishment allowable. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2007, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-90-year-old-neighbor-is-shot-down-by-the-po-pos/381392/434 "2007-02-09T02:17:07Z")
Well, that’s good to hear. ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2007, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-90-year-old-neighbor-is-shot-down-by-the-po-pos/381392/435 "2007-02-15T22:57:51Z")
Let me jump in and clarfiy a few things that aren’t as nicey-nice as they seem. Paul Howard jumped in the middle of a federal probe to announce charges against three officers, but there are a total of NINE police being investigated, and the probe was looking to into the larger issue of how this judge was able to approve the warrant, and how widespread this practice is in Fulton County. Paul Howard is subtly playing a race card: all three accused officers are white, the victim is black. By prematurely prosecuting these three cops he’s seeking to appease community leaders and constituents who want to see cops punished; but he’s also seeking to distance himself of his own (possible) complicity in the approval and use of these no-knock warrants since he took office in 200. Paul Howard is widely seen as an opportunistic DA whose zeal to lock up poor defendents in even misdemeanor drug charges pushed local police to ask for no-knock warrants… and to take shortcuts in attaining these warrants, like lying to the judges who issue them. We can blame Bush for his war on drugs, but we also have to look at the local elected officials who approve these infrigements of civil freedoms for the sake of racking up numbers. This announced prosecution is not necessarily a good thing. ---
**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2007, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-90-year-old-neighbor-is-shot-down-by-the-po-pos/381392/436 "2007-02-16T04:41:49Z")
[QUOTE=Askia] This announced prosecution is not necessarily a good thing. [/QUOTE] I read that the feds are ticked about this prosecution and say it limits their ability to pursue charges. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2007, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-90-year-old-neighbor-is-shot-down-by-the-po-pos/381392/437 "2007-02-16T11:08:08Z")
Do you think that might be on purpose? ---
**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2007, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-90-year-old-neighbor-is-shot-down-by-the-po-pos/381392/438 "2007-02-17T04:51:43Z")
[QUOTE=E-Sabbath] Do you think that might be on purpose? [/QUOTE] Very much so. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2007, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-90-year-old-neighbor-is-shot-down-by-the-po-pos/381392/439 "2007-02-18T07:02:41Z")
[QUOTE=Askia] he’s also seeking to distance himself of his own (possible) complicity in the approval and use of these no-knock warrants since he took office in 200. Paul Howard is widely seen as an opportunistic DA whose zeal to lock up poor defendents in even misdemeanor drug charges pushed local police to ask for no-knock warrants. [/QUOTE] The man was elected to office 1, 806 years ago and he still shows **zeal** for his job ??? Gotta give the man props. Even Methuzelah got crabby around age 850. 😃 This is what a lack of term limits has done to Georgia. ---
**Author:** ![jali](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecae2f/32.png) [@jali](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jali)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2007, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-90-year-old-neighbor-is-shot-down-by-the-po-pos/381392/440 "2007-04-12T16:53:46Z")
Update: One of the 3 police officers at the center of this has accepted some type of plea deal. Details weren’t aired on the news yesterday, but it indicates to me that he’s guilty of something. [link](http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/atlanta/stories/2007/04/11/0411MetShoot.html) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-90-year-old-neighbor-is-shot-down-by-the-po-pos/381392.md?page=21) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-90-year-old-neighbor-is-shot-down-by-the-po-pos/381392.md?page=23)