Atlanta Shooting Informant Says He Was Asked To Lie

WBSTV | November 27, 2006

ATLANTA -- There is major fallout from the Atlanta Police shootout that left an elderly woman dead – officers are put on leave and the state and the feds are investigating.

Atlanta’s Police Chief announced both the FBI and GBI are investigating the shootout. Also, a narcotics team involved is now on paid leave and autopsy results reveal 88-year-old Kathryn Johnston was shot six times.

Chief Richard Pennington wrapped up a surprise press conference around 5:20 p.m. Monday telling us his entire narcotics unit is on administrative leave – that means seven officers and one sergeant are on leave after the police shootout that left Kathryn Johnston dead.

Now, Chief Pennington confirmed there are questions as to whether there was ever a drug buy at Kathryn Johnston’s home – the informant told the Internal Affairs Unit he was told to lie.

“Officers are saying one thing – confidential informant is saying something else,” said Chief Richard Pennington.

Chief Pennington dropped several bomb shells at a press conference Monday evening. He tells us his entire narcotics unit will be placed on administrative leave after last Tuesday’s police shootout that left 88-year-old Kathryn Johnston dead and three officers wounded.

In search warrants obtained by Channel 2, investigators say a confidential informant made an undercover buy at Johnston’s home -- $50 worth of crack cocaine.

Johnston’s family and community leaders were outraged, claiming no such drug deal could have happened because Johnston lived alone in her Northwest Atlanta home.

Now, Chief Pennington confirmed there are questions as to whether that drug buy ever happened.

When Pennington was asked if it was his understanding that the informant was told to lie about a possible drug purchase, Chief Pennington replied, “Yes. According to the informant, after we brought that informant in and interviewed that informant, he told us he had no knowledge of going into that house and purchasing drugs.”

From here, the FBI is taking over the investigation and the GBI will process the crime scene on Neal Street – Johnston’s home. The U.S. Justice Department will also be conducting their own independent investigation. Chief Richard Pennington announcing no stone will be unturned and said they will review their policies on “no-knock” warrants and using confidential and reliable informants.