via Flickr
Atlanta police officer Sung Kim had one job as part of a federal task force: to serve a warrant. But when target Jimmy Atchison ran to another apartment, he was pursued by Officer Kim, who found him in a closet. Jimmy was promptly executed.
After finding Jimmy in the closet, Officer Kim shot him in the face. Jimmy was UNARMED. This shooting was excessive and unnecessary - and yet, Officer Kim hasn’t been fired or sentenced to prison. It’s never that simple when police kill us.
It’s not Officer Kim’s first time in trouble for excessive force. He’s had complaints before, but somehow he’s still on the job. Now, Jimmy’s family wants answers and they deserve them. With the FBI investigating the shooting, perhaps that will happen.
Another shooting happened around the same time, and people are connecting it to Jimmy’s death by excessive force. The killing of 18-year-old D’Ettrick Griffin by an officer in Atlanta has also caused outrage in the city.
Cops like Officer Kim have to be held accountable or we’ll be dealing with this issue forever. Just because someone commits a crime or is suspected of doing so doesn’t mean a cop gets to be the judge, jury, and executioner.