Body Camera Footage to be Released in Tasing Death of Atlanta Deacon Johnny Hollman

Police – Accident – Death – Obituary News : Fulton County District Attorney’s Office Set to Release Body Camera Footage in Johnny Hollman Tasing Death

(ATLANTA) — In a highly anticipated move, the Fulton County District Attorney’s office is expected to release body camera footage this week depicting the incident that led to the tragic tasing death of Johnny Hollman. Hollman, a 62-year-old Atlanta deacon, passed away on August 10 after being shocked with a stun gun by an Atlanta police officer during a routine traffic stop.

The DA’s office, in a statement released on Monday, assured that the video could be made public without hindering the ongoing investigation. They also confirmed that media outlets would have access to the footage upon filing an open records request with the office. While an exact date for the release was not provided, attorney Mawuli Davis, representing the Hollman family, informed ABC News that the family expects the video to be made available on Wednesday.

The family of Hollman has been tirelessly advocating for the release of the body camera footage for several months now. This push comes as the Atlanta Police Department (APD) and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) jointly investigate the incident. The Fulton County District Attorney’s Office is also conducting its own parallel investigation.

In an emotional interview with ABC News’ Linsey Davis back in August, Arnitra Hollman, the daughter of Johnny Hollman, expressed her frustration and grief, stating, “Whatever happened, they killed my daddy.” She revealed that she was on the phone with her father during his interaction with the police officer and alleged that the officer displayed aggression towards her father, ultimately leading to his demise. Arnitra Hollman further claimed to have heard her father say, “I can’t breathe,” a phrase that has tragically become associated with fatal encounters involving law enforcement.

“My dad has chronic asthma he’s had ever since he was a child. If he tells you he can’t breathe, you have to stop whatever you’re doing,” she pleaded, highlighting the importance of understanding and responding to medical conditions during police encounters.

The Fulton County Medical Examiner’s office conducted an autopsy, which classified Hollman’s manner of death as a “homicide.” According to the report obtained by ABC News, the cause of death was listed as “Cardiac dysrhythmia due to the use of a conducted energy device in association with hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.”

The GBI confirmed on Tuesday that their investigation is complete and has been handed over to the Fulton County DA’s office for further action.

According to the Atlanta Police Department, the incident unfolded when an officer arrived at the scene of a minor traffic accident on August 10 around 11:20 p.m. After determining that Hollman was at fault, the officer issued him a traffic citation. Hollman, however, refused to sign the citation, an arrestable offense at the time. Subsequently, a struggle ensued when the officer attempted to take Hollman into custody. After several minutes of grappling, the officer deployed his taser and, with the help of a witness, managed to handcuff Hollman.

It was only then that the officer realized Hollman had become unresponsive, prompting him to call for emergency medical services. Hollman was transported to Grady Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The officer involved, identified as Officer Kiran Kimbrough, was initially placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation. However, on October 10, Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum terminated Kimbrough for failing to adhere to the department’s standard operating procedures. These failures included neglecting to call a supervisor to the scene before making the arrest and neglecting to sign the traffic citation.

Following Kimbrough’s termination, his attorney, Lance LoRusso, issued a statement vehemently denying any wrongdoing or policy violations on the part of his client. LoRusso further stated that Kimbrough plans to appeal the termination.

In response to Hollman’s death, the Atlanta Police Department has reevaluated its standard of operations regarding traffic citations. As a result, the department has changed its policy to allow officers to write “refusal to sign” on tickets, rather than resorting to arrests.

Intriguingly, officers discovered a handgun and nine bags of marijuana in Hollman’s vehicle after his death. However, it remains unclear whether the handgun was legally possessed or not, as the Atlanta Police Department has yet to confirm this detail.

Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum emphasized his commitment to the well-being and safety of every individual in Atlanta. He stated, “Every single person and life in the City of Atlanta matters to me. I understand the difficult and dangerous job that our officers do each and every day throughout the city. I do not arrive at these decisions lightly. Only after a diligent review of all of the facts, while ensuring the due process of our officers, do I arrive at my decision.”

Attorney Mawuli Davis, in anticipation of protests following Hollman’s death, called for the release of the body camera footage. He expressed hope that the footage’s release would provide the Hollman family with the answers they seek.

Davis asserted, “This was a simple traffic accident. You should be able to go home after a traffic accident; you should not die out in an Atlanta street because you’re in a collision, and police are too aggressive.”

As the release of the body camera footage draws closer, the public eagerly awaits the truth, hoping for justice and accountability in the wake of this tragic incident..