Every 36 Hours

Kendrick Johnson Georgia Teens Family Waiting For Autopsy Over Accidental Death

The body of a Georgia sophomore found dead in a rolled-up mat at his high school gym still waits for an additional autopsy nearly three months after it was discovered. Kendrick Johnson's family seeks to start a criminal investigation into a death initially ruled accidental by an autopsy — but which was complicated by the family's suspicion and the delays of the county authorities.

Holding 'No Justice, No Peace' signs, the family of the deceased Kendrick Johnson protested on the steps of the Lowndes County Judicial Complex. They were arrested after blocking the building's doors and preventing people from entering.

Seven family members were arrested for protesting the lack of expediency in the investigation. They hoped their protest would put more pressure on the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, a notoriously underfunded agency, to move forward with the investigation. The protests were in part organized by the Valdosta State University and the Morehouse College NAACP chapters.

Johnson was a gifted athlete who practiced basketball and football, and dreamed of playing for the Florida Gators. He died rolled inside of a wrestling mat in his high school gym. Due to the suspicious circumstances, his family believe that their child was murdered. An iCNN report shows a photo (caution: Graphic) of Johnson when he was alive next to a closeup of his lacerated and clearly beaten face. Authorities claimed that on January 11, Johnson fell into the mats and was stuck up-side for long enough that blood rushed to his head and killed him. This, however, does not explain the lacerations to his face and body.

Meanwhile, the Lowndes High School administration refuses to release video of Johnson's last moments at the school. Apparently, no students, teachers of administrators noticed that Johnson was missing from his classes until his father worried that he did not return home after school. The county coroner, Bill Watson, admitted that the county's sheriff department, led by Chris Pine, did not notify him about Johnson's death on January 11. It is unclear how long it took for the sheriff’s department to notify Watson, or if any evidence was removed or changed prior to this. The ineptness of the county's Sherrif department has resulted in questions about the transparency of the investigation.

By Mike Morris, Angel K. Brooks

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The man shot and killed by Atlanta police at the Mall West End on Wednesday evening was a fugitive wanted by Mississippi authorities, the GBI said Thursday.

Christopher Calhoun was wanted for drug and car theft charges, Channel 2 Action News said.

GBI spokesman John Bankhead told the AJC that Atlanta police got a tip that the fugitive they were looking for was parked in a Chevrolet Suburban at the mall.

"During officers' attempt to arrest, the fugitive was shot and killed," Bankhead said.

The Fulton County Medical Examiner's office identified the dead man as Christopher Calhoun, 38.

Jackson County, Miss., Sheriff Mike Byrd told the AJC on Thursday that Calhoun had been wanted by his office on multiple vehicle theft and drug-related warrants.

Calhoun had been a fugitive since last September, when deputies went to his home in Escatawpa, Miss., to serve the warrants "and he ran," Byrd said.

The shooting happened around 9 p.m. Wednesday in the parking lot of the mall, which is just west of downtown in the West End area.

"I just saw the truck at the front and then the police pulled in, I think maybe three, and they jumped out and yelled freeze," witness Andrew Smith told Channel 2. "And a little after that I heard the shots and people started running towards us."

"Due to the number of officers involved, the size and complexity of the crime scene and the fact that it resulted in a fatality, we have asked the GBI to assist to ensure an objective and thorough investigation," Atlanta police spokesman Officer John Chafee said in a statement sent to the AJC.

Friends and family gathered Saturday to bury a 25-year-old Detroit woman who was shot and killed in a strange incident a week ago involving an off-duty Detroit police officer whose holstered gun went off while the two appeared to be dancing.

Adaisha Marrisha-Devin Miller, nicknamed Dai Dai, was described as a kind and loving daughter and sister who hated to see people sad. About 100 people attended the service at Hutchison Funeral Home at 7 Mile and Mound roads. Miller was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Detroit.

“If y’all don’t do nothing for the rest of your lives, just laugh,” said Miller’s brother, Shane Miller. “That was her thing — she liked to laugh. Do it for Dai Dai.”

Detroit Police are still investigating the incident, but according to police officials, off-duty officer Isaac Parrish was holding a fish fry at his Detroit home July 8, and while he and Miller were dancing, his department-issued gun went off, striking her in the chest. Her death was ruled a homicide.

Family members said previously they had heard different versions of where Miller was in relation to Parrish, but police said Miller was on her knees and tugging at Parrish’s waistband when the Smith & Wesson M&P 40 semiautomatic weapon went off. Parrish was wearing a soft holster that could have allowed the trigger to be manipulated, a preliminary police investigation showed.

Miller’s mother, Yolanda McNair, said she was told by partygoers that the two were side-by-side, hugging, because Miller was a day from turning 25, when the gun went off. She questioned why Parrish carried a loaded gun at his own party, and she has hired a lawyer who said the family will file a suit.

The officer is on administrative restrictive duty.

Saturday’s service was held with gospel and spiritual music, and after talking about Miller’s life as the oldest of four children and a budding massage therapist, family and friends offered their reflections.

McNair, an employee of Detroit’s Water and Sewerage Department, said her pain was only tempered by the knowledge that her daughter was reunited with her grandmother.

“Two times in the last two days, I called her,” McNair said. “But she wasn’t going to come. No one in this world can comfort me, but I take my comfort in knowing she is with my mother. Every time I think of my baby, I think of her smile.”

As the rain poured in a small neighborhood in the Town of LaGrange, a gunshot rang out.

Moments before, state police arrived at the three-bedroom house on Hettinger Lane. The small white house is one of only three on the dark, private drive.

As his partner circled around the back, a state trooper entered the front of the house.

The trooper was suddenly confronted by a man with a sawed-off .22-caliber rifle. The man struck the trooper with the weapon, state police said.

The trooper fired, and the confrontation ended as violently as it began, with the death of the suspect, Abdelle Jean St. Ange, 22, of Poughkeepsie, police said, providing an account of the fast-moving incident that shocked the community.

It was only the beginning of the investigation that will involve a search for four other suspects and a deeper examination of the house they are alleged to have broken into.

In the darkness of the woods surrounding the neighborhood, state troopers fanned out.

They were joined by deputies with the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office, some with police dogs, and one police officer with the Village of Wappingers Falls.

The search expanded. The chopping sound of a helicopter overhead pierced the overnight calm of the neighborhood as police conducted an aerial search of the area for the suspects.

Susan Puccillo, 68, a neighborhood resident, later said she heard a helicopter “for hours,” starting around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday.

“It sounded close,” she said. “We knew something was really wrong. As to what, we didn’t know.

“I said a number of prayers,” she said.

More troopers joined the hunt for the suspects. By the end, the total rose to 40 troopers and numerous sheriff’s deputies.

“It was a pretty extensive search that took place,” Maj. Michael Kopy of the state police said Tuesday morning.

The search led troopers through the dark woods that aren’t far from the bright lights of the intersection of Titusville and Noxon roads where a number of gas stations and businesses are.

One suspect got a mile from the house on Hettinger Lane. All four were apprhended and arraigned Tuesday morning in LaGrange Town Court.

On Tuesday, the scene in the neighborhood on Hettinger Lane was anything but quiet. As the rain continued to fall, numerous police vehicles parked there and along Smith Road were joined by cars and vans driven by members of the media.

A portable shelter protected the police and deputies from the rain as the nearly dozen members of the media huddled to hear the latest information on the series of events.

TUCSON - A 19-year-old ex-convict was shot and killed by Tucson Police last night while reaching for a gun that had fallen off him, police state in a news release.

At about 6:17 p.m. last night, officers responded to a report of suspicious activity in the 3200 block of South Marc, near Pantano and Golf Links, the release states. The caller reported to 911 that a man was in an alley, hiding against a wall.

Officers found the man matching the description, and made contact with him, the release states. The man identified himself as 19-year-old Aaron Hunter, and offered to get his identification from his home down the street.

While walking with Hunter, officers conducted a records check, the release states. When they arrived at Hunter's home, officers noticed he was fidgeting with his hands near his waistband. Officers were then notified that the suspect was known to carry weapons.

When Officer Ryan Green asked if Hunter had any weapons and started to pat him down, an altercation ensued, and Officer Green was pushed to the ground, the news release states. Hunter climbed over a wall into his backyard, and Officer Green followed. As Hunter slowed down, a handgun fell off of him onto the ground.

Officer Green drew his gun on Hunter, who turned and faced him. The gun that fell off Hunter was on the ground between the two men, the release states, and Hunter bent over and reached toward the gun. Officer Green fired; Hunter stepped back, and then reached for a second time in an attempt to pick weapon up, police officials state. Officer Green fired at Hunter again. Hunter then fell to the ground.

Officers rendered aid until Tucson Fire emergency personnel arrived. Hunter was taken to a nearby hospital where he died from his injuries.

Hunter was released from the Department of Corrections in October 2011, where he had served over six months for Endangerment and Weapons Misconduct.