The family of Johnny Hollman, a 62-year-old church deacon from Atlanta, is taking legal action against the city and a former police officer after Hollman died during an altercation with law enforcement officials. Citing a confrontation that turned fatal following a minor traffic incident, the family's announcement of a civil rights lawsuit focuses on former Atlanta police Officer Kiran Kimbrough and the city's responsibility.
Hollman, who was returning from a Bible study and carrying dinner for his wife, became embroiled in a vehicle accident that officer Kimbrough responded to. According to FOX 5 Atlanta, the incident escalated after Kimbrough determined Hollman was responsible for the crash, leading to a physical struggle after Hollman refused to sign a traffic ticket. Despite Hollman exclaiming "I can’t breathe," the confrontation ended with Kimbrough using a Taser on the deacon. Hollman's subsequent hospitalization culminated in a death ruled as homicide by autopsy, with contributing heart disease.
Kimbrough's dismissal from the police force is a part of the unfolding aftermath, the Atlanta Police Department citing procedural violations regarding the lack of supervisor presence at the time of the arrest. The body cam footage of the incident has been a central piece of evidence, revealing the intense altercation between the officer and Hollman, as reported by 11Alive News. As family and the community demand justice, with calls for charges against Kimbrough, the body camera footage remains withheld pending further investigations.
Much debate exists surrounding the cause of Hollman's demise. Kimbrough's attornies maintain his innocence and decry his termination, planning an appeal. An emotional press conference saw Hollman's daughter, Anitra, refuting the department's narrative, emphasizing her father's community role and stating, "He wasn't just a father to us... he was a father to the community, he was a grandfather to the community," she told 11Alive News. Continuing this line of thought, attorney Mawuli Davis, representing Hollman's family, directly addressed the press saying, "What we saw was murder, we saw an assault against a 62-year-old man who was literally pleading for his life." Calls for Kimbrough's prosecution accent the family's quest for accountability and justice.
As the Hollman family prepares for a lawsuit, they not only seek reparation but a clear message against what they deem as excessive force and a preventable death. They had previously filed a wrongful death suit against a tow truck driver involved at the scene, as per reports obtained by FOX 5 Atlanta.
