It was bad enough that Atlanta police had the wrong address, when it launched a 2006 drug raid with guns blazing in the crime-riddled English Avenue neighborhood.
When it was clear that the officers had the wrong house because no drugs were found, though, police still decided to plant marijuana on the 92-year-old Kathryn Johnston, who was shot to death in the raid.
The unconscionable actions by the police drug squad led to a $4.9 million settlement to Johnston's family and the city of Atlanta, Mayor Kasim Reed announced this week.
Five Atlanta officers pled guilty for their roles in the shooting and six others were reprimanded for acting against police policy; police used an illegal no-knock search warrant to break down Johnston's door.
While it's obvious no amount of money will bring Johnston back to her family, the public scrutiny the settlement and officers' convictions will bring may help clear the bad actors from the police department.
Johnston didn't go down without a fight. In self-defense, she fired a shotgun blast at the police intruders. Thinking of the horror that must have been going through Johnston's mind as the officers crashed through her door is heart wrenching and clearly touched a nerve.
Johnston's shooting has been memorialized in song by folk singer Shawn Mullins (watch him sing below). An Atlanta artist also painted a huge mural of Johnston on her northwest Atlanta home.
Of more lasting importance is the pledge from city officials that Atlanta police training and policies will be overhauled due to the Johnston killing.
If that turns out to be true, then the death of Kathryn Johnston will not have been in vain.
28-July-10 - An Ohio woman who helped counsel countless couples experiencing marital discord was found stabbed to death on Monday. The suspect is her husband.
27-July-10 - Mocienne Petit Jackson, a Netherlands woman who claims to be the child of pop sensation Michael Jackson and Diana Ross' sister, Barbara Ross, has filed documents in a Los Angeles court, according to TMZ.
23-July-10 - Could it be that Rangel simply forgot the rules? Did it slip his mind that he wasn't supposed to use his letterhead to get corporate donations for a building named after him, as charged? That's not the Charlie Rangel I knew, but that Rangel will surely be exposed when his trial starts.
23-July-10 - R&B heartthrob Brian McKnight, who was accused of being a long-lost baby daddy to a 14-year-old Florida boy, is not be the child's biological father.
22-July-10 - Staying out of trouble is not an easy feat for rapper Foxy Brown, who was arrested in Brooklyn on Wednesday for violating an order of protection, according to TMZ.
23-July-10 - A child pyromaniac is suspected of murdering his mother and siblings, setting fire to his home, and then slitting his own throat with a razor.
22-July-10 - Ieshuh Griffin is a legislative candidate from Wisconsin who seems willing to do whatever it takes to get elected. In the five words that candidates are allowed to put on the ballot to describe themselves, Griffin put the phrase, "Not the white man's b*tch."
21-July-10 - DeFarra Gaymon, a father of four and the CEO of Credit Union of Atlanta, was shot to death in a Newark, N.J. park known for male prostitution.
20-July-10 - Snoop Dogg and his wife revealed to People Magazine that the discovery that their then-6-year-old daughter, Cori, had lupus helped bring their family closer.
This is evident that the police force hands guns and a badge and give them licenses to kill. To cover up there mistake and justify their actions because they can. Its wrong and they will be held accounable on judgement day for taken an innocent life.
This is exactly why all police actions have to investigated not only were they wrong but to try and justify it by planting drugs on the scene WTF the should have gotten a hundred million and all those officers put on death row.
I had forgotten about this sad story. I wanted to cry when it happen. I did cry when I heard Shawn Mullins sing his song.that was so beautiful Shawn. Glad Georgia has deep pockets, next time maybe their pollice will think twice before they go on early morning raids.
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By: ladyred078 on 8/18/2010 11:31AM
This is evident that the police force hands guns and a badge and give them licenses to kill. To cover up there mistake and justify their actions because they can. Its wrong and they will be held accounable on judgement day for taken an innocent life.
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By: Charles on 8/18/2010 6:43PM
This is exactly why all police actions have to investigated not only were they wrong but to try and justify it by planting drugs on the scene WTF the should have gotten a hundred million and all those officers put on death row.
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By: Mary on 8/24/2010 2:54PM
I had forgotten about this sad story. I wanted to cry when it happen. I did cry when I heard Shawn Mullins sing his song.that was so beautiful Shawn. Glad Georgia has deep pockets, next time maybe their pollice will think twice before they go on early morning raids.
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By: Warren on 8/18/2010 9:44PM
....Despise 'em...all of 'em. Ice Cube and N.W.A had it right!
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