Nationwide — Lanier Johnson-Hunt, an 18-year-old African American teen from Fulton County, Georgia, says police used extreme drive after tasing him on a faculty bus, regardless of his insistence that he did nothing incorrect. A video of the incident has since gone viral, drawing widespread consideration and elevating questions on what occurred.
Johnson-Hunt spoke publicly this week after the footage unfold on-line. At a information convention, he confirmed marks on his chest the place taser prongs pierced his pores and skin and mentioned he adopted faculty guidelines and posed no risk.
In line with Fox 5 Atlanta, he mentioned he boarded the identical bus he had taken for years and was centered on getting residence to take care of his 6-year-old brother, who has autism. “He was merely attempting to get residence to care for his little brother. He was on the appropriate bus,” mentioned Gerald Griggs, president of the Georgia NAACP.
Video recorded by one other pupil exhibits a faculty police officer confronting Johnson-Hunt after a bus driver contacted directors. The driving force claimed the teenager was not assigned to the bus. College officers then ordered all college students off earlier than permitting them again on with out verifying bus assignments, in accordance with Johnson-Hunt.
When police arrived, Johnson-Hunt mentioned officers informed him to go away his seat. After he refused, one officer appeared to seize him by the neck, pull him off the bus, and deploy a Taser. A second taser sound will be heard within the video.
Johnson-Hunt mentioned that after being handcuffed, the officer slapped him and tried to tase him once more till faculty directors intervened. He mentioned he weighs about 115 kilos, and his legal professional argued that the extent of drive used was pointless.
The incident occurred outdoors Langston Hughes Excessive College final Thursday. Fulton County Faculties later confirmed the officer concerned was faraway from energetic responsibility throughout an inside investigation and described the incident as remoted.
Johnson-Hunt was suspended for 10 days and charged with obstruction, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct. His mom, Sharrita Johnson, mentioned she initially trusted faculty officers to deal with the matter correctly however felt in another way after studying extra particulars.
“I used to be like, okay, if he did one thing incorrect, then you definitely guys deal with it. However then, once I acquired the whole fact, it harm,” Sharrita Johnson mentioned.
The household has not filed a lawsuit however says it’s contemplating authorized motion. They’re asking for the suspension to be lifted, the fees dropped, and for Johnson-Hunt to return to class whereas the investigation continues.
