Federal Judge Dismisses Charges Against Former Atlanta Officer in 2019 Fatal Shooting

A federal judge dismissed all criminal charges against former Atlanta police officer Sung Kim in the 2019 fatal shooting of Jimmy Atchison, ruling that Kim acted in self-defense and was immune under federal supremacy principles. Judge Michael Brown described Kim’s actions as "textbook self-defense," stating the evidence was so overwhelming it was difficult to understand why charges were brought or persisted. Atchison, who was unarmed and wanted on an armed robbery warrant, fled from law enforcement before being found hiding under clothes in an apartment closet. Kim testified that Atchison made a sudden movement that he reasonably believed was a threat, prompting him to fire a single fatal shot. The ruling also noted that Kim was acting as a deputized federal officer at the time, granting him immunity under the Supremacy Clause. The shooting led to protests and policy changes, including the Atlanta Police Department withdrawing from federal task forces until body camera policies were updated, while Atchison’s family continues to seek accountability.