A federal judge dismissed murder charges against an Atlanta officer who fatally shot an unarmed Black man, fueling national outrage over use-of-force laws and police accountability.
At a Glance
- A judge dismissed all charges against ex-Atlanta officer Sung Kim in the 2019 killing of Jimmy Atchison
- Kim shot Atchison during a federal task force raid; Atchison was unarmed and hiding in a closet
- The court ruled Kim acted in “textbook self-defense” under federal immunity protections
- Civil rights groups condemned the decision as dangerous precedent for unchecked police force
- The ruling has sparked renewed calls for reform in federal-local law enforcement partnerships
The Killing and Its Legal Fallout
In January 2019, Jimmy Atchison was shot and killed by then-officer Sung Kim during an FBI task force operation in Atlanta. Atchison, wanted for allegedly stealing a phone at gunpoint, fled the scene and hid inside a closet. Kim, who believed Atchison was armed, fired a fatal shot—only for investigators to later determine Atchison had no weapon.
Years later, Kim was indicted for murder and assault, but on June 4, U.S. District Judge Michael Brown dismissed the case, citing the Supremacy Clause and a sweeping interpretation of self-defense. Brown ruled that Kim had a reasonable belief Atchison posed a deadly threat, stating: “Nothing required [him] to hold off shooting until he literally saw a gun.”
Watch a report: Federal Judge Dismisses Officer’s Murder Case.
Family Grief, Civil Rights Alarm
Jimmy Atchison’s family called the ruling a devastating blow to justice. His father, Jimmy Hill, said: “I’m disappointed, but sometimes if there’s no struggle there’s no progress.” Activists argue that Atchison was attempting to surrender when shot and say the court decision has dangerously expanded legal cover for officers.
The Georgia NAACP condemned the ruling as a license for violence. President Gerald A. Griggs warned, “[This judge] has given law enforcement a license to kill… even when you don’t have a gun. That is not justice. That is legalized murder.”
Civil rights attorney Tanya Miller pointed to a troubling accountability gap for officers operating under federal auspices: “They can violate their own department’s policies, the Constitution, take a young life, and still avoid standing trial.”
Systemic Fault Lines Exposed
The 2019 shooting catalyzed calls for reform in law enforcement partnerships. Atlanta police briefly withdrew from federal task forces, and national outcry over the lack of body camera footage—Kim wore none—sparked new camera mandates for federal operations.
The judge’s ruling now casts a long shadow over those reforms, with critics warning it sets a precedent where “reasonable belief” alone shields fatal mistakes from legal scrutiny. Legal experts note that officers on federal task forces enjoy broader immunities, complicating efforts to hold them accountable through state-level charges.
As protests mount and appeals loom, the Atchison case continues to stir urgent debate over the role of the judiciary, the limits of police force, and the fragility of public trust in justice.
