The Tasing Death of Johnny Hollman: Body Camera Footage of Atlanta Deacon’s Fatal Encounter with Police Expected to be Released

Accident – Death – Obituary News : **Atlanta Deacon Dies After Being Tased by Police Officer During Traffic Stop: Body Camera Footage to be Released**

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*ATLANTA – A shocking incident involving the death of Johnny Hollman, a 62-year-old Atlanta deacon, is set to be revealed this week as the Fulton County District Attorney’s office prepares to release the body camera footage. The footage captures the tragic incident that unfolded on August 10, when Hollman was tased by an Atlanta police officer during a routine traffic stop.*

The DA’s office stated on Monday that after careful consideration, they have determined that the video can be released without compromising the ongoing investigation. The footage will be made available to media outlets upon an open records request being filed with the office. While an exact date for the release has not been provided, Mawuli Davis, the attorney representing the Hollman family, anticipates the video’s release on Wednesday.

The release of the body camera footage has been eagerly awaited by Hollman’s family, who have been demanding its release for several months. The incident is currently undergoing a joint investigation by the Atlanta Police Department (APD) and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), with the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office also looking into the matter.

Hollman’s daughter, Arnitra Hollman, expressed her frustration and grief, stating, “Whatever happened, they killed my daddy.” In an interview with ABC News’ Linsey Davis, she revealed that she was on the phone with her father during the encounter and claimed that the police officer was aggressive towards him. She also stated that she heard her father say, “I can’t breathe.”

Tragically, when Arnitra Hollman arrived at the scene, her father had already passed away. She emphasized that her father had chronic asthma since childhood, and if he complained about not being able to breathe, the officer should have stopped his actions.

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

A spokesperson for the GBI informed ABC News that their investigation is now complete and has been handed over to the Fulton County DA’s Office for further action.

According to a statement by the Atlanta Police Department, the incident began when an officer responded to a minor traffic accident at approximately 11:20 p.m. on August 10. After determining that Hollman was at fault, the officer issued him a traffic citation. However, Hollman refused to sign it, which is considered an arrestable offense.

The situation escalated when Hollman became agitated and uncooperative. The officer attempted to arrest him, leading to a struggle between the two. After several minutes, the officer deployed his taser and, with the assistance of a witness, managed to handcuff Hollman. It was at this point that the officer noticed Hollman had become unresponsive and called emergency medical services. Hollman was subsequently pronounced dead at Grady Hospital.

The officer involved in the incident, identified as Officer Kiran Kimbrough, was initially placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation. On October 10, Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum terminated Officer Kimbrough for failing to adhere to the department’s standard operating procedures. This included not calling a supervisor to the scene before the arrest and neglecting to sign the traffic citation.

In response to Officer Kimbrough’s termination, his attorney, Lance LoRusso, released a statement proclaiming Kimbrough’s innocence and denying any wrongdoing or policy violations. LoRusso emphasized that the officer’s arrest of Hollman was lawful and aligned with both his training and Georgia law. Furthermore, he stated that Officer Kimbrough made numerous attempts to seek medical evaluation for Hollman following the arrest.

Since Hollman’s death, the Atlanta Police Department has reevaluated its standard operating procedures regarding traffic citations. As a result, officers are now permitted to document “refusal to sign” on tickets rather than making an arrest.

During a search of Hollman’s vehicle after his death, officers discovered a handgun and nine bags of marijuana. ABC News reached out to the police department for clarification on the legality of the handgun, but the APD did not respond immediately.

Chief Schierbaum expressed his commitment to fairness and transparency, stating, “Every single person and life in the City of Atlanta matters to me.” He acknowledged the difficult and dangerous work carried out by officers daily, emphasizing that his decisions are made after a thorough review of all the facts and with due process in mind.

Mawuli Davis, the attorney representing the Hollman family, called for the release of the body camera footage ahead of protests in Atlanta following Hollman’s death. He hopes that the release of the footage will provide answers to the family’s questions. Davis firmly believes that a simple traffic accident should not result in death and that law enforcement should exercise restraint in such situations.

As the release of the body camera footage draws near, the public eagerly awaits the opportunity to gain a comprehensive understanding of the tragic events that led to Johnny Hollman’s untimely death..