Jimmy Atchison’s father calls for justice
The daddy of an unarmed man shot and killed by a former Atlanta police officer is demanding an attraction after the fees towards him had been dropped. A federal decide dominated Sung Kim was immune from prosecution within the 2019 taking pictures.
ATLANTA – The daddy of Jimmy Atchison says he gained’t cease preventing for justice after a decide dropped all prices towards the previous officer who killed his son.
“It was unjust. This ruling was unjust,” Jimmy Hill, Atchison’s father, stated. “I used to be enraged. I used to be caught off guard.”
“I do know it’s my son, and I really like him,” Hill stated. “He was murdered unnecessarily and unjustifiably. My son was unarmed, surrendered.”
A federal decide dismissed the fees towards former Atlanta Police Officer Sung Kim, together with felony homicide, on Tuesday.
What we all know:
U.S. District Decide Michael L. Brown issued the ruling on Tuesday, citing each the federal Supremacy Clause and Georgia’s self-defense legal guidelines as grounds for dismissal. The choice voids a Fulton County grand jury indictment that charged Kim with felony homicide, involuntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, and violation of oath of workplace.
“There is no such thing as a real dispute that [Kim] moderately believed his actions had been needed and correct,” Brown wrote. “The proof for self-defense is so overwhelming it’s laborious to know how Georgia might have introduced these prices within the first place.”
The backstory:
The incident occurred on January 22, 2019, when Kim, a 26-year veteran of the Atlanta Police Division and a deputized member of the FBI’s Atlanta Violent Crime Activity Pressure, joined a group trying to arrest Atchison on an armed theft warrant. In accordance with court docket paperwork, Atchison fled from officers, first leaping from a window after which operating via a northwest Atlanta condo advanced earlier than hiding inside a closet beneath a pile of garments.
A Fulton County grand jury indicted Kim in 2023.
Sung Kim (Atlanta Police Division)
Kim’s attorneys efficiently moved the case to federal court docket, the place the decide later dominated he couldn’t be prosecuted.
Hill believes the case mustn’t have been moved. “It ought to’ve stayed state. As a result of it was a former Atlanta police officer on mortgage to a federal activity pressure,” Hill stated.
What they’re saying:
“Is that this what America is about? This could’t be what America says it stands for,” Hill stated. “Who’s liberty and justice actually for if a federal officer can’t be held accountable for police misconduct?” he added.
“For six years, now we have stood shoulder to shoulder with the Atchison household as they’ve demanded justice,” stated Gerald Griggs, President of the NAACP Georgia State Convention.  “Yesterday’s determination is just not solely hurtful to the Atchison household and their group, it additional erodes belief in legislation enforcement. The federal court docket’s dismissal goes towards the desire of the Fulton County grand jury and undermines the justice that the Atchison household deserves.”Â
Prices dropped towards ex officer; household reacts
The daddy of an unarmed man shot and killed by a former Atlanta police officer is demanding an attraction after the fees towards him had been dropped. A federal decide dominated Sung Kim was immune from prosecution within the 2019 taking pictures.
“This ruling is as harmful as it’s disgraceful,” stated Derrick Johnson, President and CEO of the NAACP. “It offers federally deputized officers authorized immunity from group oversight and justice. We is not going to permit legislation enforcement to devalue our group’s lives. The police officer who killed Jimmy Atchison have to be held accountable for his actions
What’s subsequent:
Atchison’s father has began a petition calling on Fulton County District Legal professional Fani Willis to attraction the ruling.
Her workplace says it’s reviewing the decide’s orders and deciding subsequent steps.
“First off, I’ve to present because of God as a result of he’s the one which’s been giving me power and steering,” Hill stated.
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The Supply: This text is predicated off of unique reporting by FOX 5’s Rob DiRienzo. Further data was supplied by the NAACP and the Fulton County District Legal professional’s Workplace.
