The Fulton County grand jury has rendered a decision to not indict former Atlanta police officer Kiran Kimbrough for the death of church deacon Johnny Hollman Sr., as reported by WSB-TV. In the August 10, 2023 incident following a traffic altercation, Officer Kimbrough deployed his Taser during a dispute with Hollman over the signing of a traffic ticket, after which the 62-year-old deacon collapsed and later died.
Despite video evidence showing the altercation and Hollman's subsequent plea that he couldn't breathe, the grand jury decided there wasn't sufficient evidence to formally charge Kimbrough with involuntary manslaughter, simple battery, and two counts of violation of oath of office. In a statement obtained by WSB-TV, one of Kimbrough's attorneys, Lance LoRusso, said, "While Johnny Hollman's death was tragic, in no way did Kiran Kimbrough cause the death of Johnny Hollman." He cited "medical complications and his felonious, unlawful resistance" as the cause of death.
The Fulton County Medical Examiner had previously determined that Hollman died from cardiac dysrhythmia triggered by the stun gun in combination with heart disease. This was confirmed by an autopsy finding that his heart rhythm was disrupted by the Taser, along with other contributing health factors, as reported by FOX 5 Atlanta. Following the incident, the Atlanta Police Department updated their procedures to prevent such situations. Officers are to take note of "refusal to sign" on traffic citations rather than making an arrest.
The outcome has undoubtedly hit the Hollman family hard. Attorney Mawuli Davis, representing the family, expressed their grief in a statement obtained by WSB-TV: "This is a profoundly sad day—not only for the Hollman family but for all who believe in justice." He went on to criticize the criminal justice system for failing "to hold law enforcement accountable for the death of a citizen." Although Kimbrough has been fired from the Atlanta Police Department, the rejection of an indictment by the grand jury leaves the family and their attorneys looking to forge ahead in their ongoing civil rights lawsuit against the city, former Chief Darin Schierbaum, Kimbrough, and other parties involved.
As community grief and calls for justice persist, this case continues to echo the sentiments of nationwide conversations surrounding police accountability and reform. The city of Atlanta's council had previously approved a $3.8 million settlement with the Hollman family earlier in the year, following the filing of their federal lawsuit. Still, the family vows to persevere in their quest for justice, according to the statement released by their attorney Rob Bozeman, obtained by FOX 5 Atlanta: "Our faith and our fight for justice will not waver."
