Atlanta Will Pay $4.9M in Wrongful Death of 92-Year-Old

The city of Atlanta has settled with the family of a 92-year-old woman killed in an illegal police raid, agreeing to cough up $4.9 million in damages. Mayor Kasim Reed said the settlement allows the city and police department to close the door on the controversial shooting, which caused "several police officers (to be) indicted in federal and state court and later convicted and sentenced for their actions." Reed noted that the narcotics unit has since undergone substantial reforms.

Kathryn Johnston was the victim of overzealous and corrupt narcotics officers, reports the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, who performed a "no-knock" raid on her home after an informant said that drugs were being sold there. Johnston fired one shot from a handgun she kept in the house and was summarily killed. Officers then planted drugs in the house.