Kathryn Johnston, 92

Police obtain a no-knock warrant, then break through the door of a scared old lady who fires shots and is killed by police returning fire.

ABC NEWS Many people on the rundown northwest Atlanta street where Kathryn Johnston lived fortify their windows with metal bars and arm themselves for protection. Johnston, 92, was no exception. She was waiting with her gun on Tuesday night when a group of plainclothes officers with a warrant knocked down her door in a search for drugs, police said. She opened fire, wounding three officers, before being shot to death, police said.

Assistant Police Chief Alan Dreher called the killing “tragic and unfortunate” but said the officers were justified in returning fire.

“You don’t know who’s in the house until you open that door,” Dreher said Wednesday. “And once they forced open the door, they were immediately fired upon.”

The officers had gone to the old woman’s house with a search warrant after buying drugs there from a man known only as Sam, police said. Police issued a “John Doe” warrant on Wednesday for the arrest of Sam, believed to be in his early to mid 30s, who allegedly sold the drugs to the undercover agent. Dreher would not say how the dealer knew Johnston.

Investigators also said they found drugs in the home after Johnston was killed.

But family, friends, and neighbors who knew the woman were in disbelief, because…

The Ledger The killing of Ms. Johnston has outraged her neighbors and family, who said she was home alone at the time of the shooting and kept the “rusty revolver” only for self-defense in a neighborhood where drugs are openly traded and another elderly woman was recently raped.

Ms. Robinson, who said she had lived down the street from Ms. Johnston for 17 years, said she was shaken by the death of her “good friend.”

“This woman didn’t bother anyone,” Ms. Robinson said. “She was scared. She stayed in her house. She wouldn’t even come to the door for me unless I called first.”

Sunday evening, at a news conference, ATL Police Chief Richard Pennington made his first comments on the incident:

11 Alive News “They did find drugs in the house and it was not a large amount. It was marijuana,” said Chief Pennington.

Chief Pennington said the case was built on a drug buy by a confidential informant, who claimed he purchased drugs inside Johnston’s home.

More on this story as it develops.
_____________________________
Update (11/27/06):
The Confidential Informant Says ATL Police Are Lying. He says he has not been to that house, that he was told to lie, says “Sam” does not exist. Watch the video here.