U.S. INQUIRY IS SOUGHT IN KILLING OF WOMAN, 92

ATLANTA - A civil rights activist representing the family of an
elderly woman killed in a gunfight with police is calling for a
federal investigation into her death.

The Rev. Markel Hutchins will go to Washington on Monday to deliver a
letter to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales requesting that the
Justice Department and FBI review the shootout, Hutchins said in a
news release Thursday.

Kathryn Johnston, who police said was 92, was killed Tuesday evening
by narcotics agents. Authorities said the agents got a search warrant
for her home after buying drugs from a man there that afternoon.

Police said the plainclothes agents identified themselves, but when
they knocked down Johnston's door, she opened fire and injured three
of the officers.

All are expected to recover.

"This horrific incident has all the signs of an egregious violation of
Ms. Johnston's civil and human rights at worst and police officers
using poor judgment and unnecessary force at best," Hutchins said.

Johnston's neighbors and relatives have called the raid a case of
mistaken identity. Her niece said there were no drugs in the home.

Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard said his office has begun
its own investigation but said a preliminary review of the case shows
the officers had a legal right to search the home.