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Written by: A. Smith
Published August 4, 2025 @ 10:02 PM ET
FULTON COUNTY, Ga. – A Fulton County grand jury has declined to indict a former Atlanta police officer in the death of 62-year-old Johnny Hollman Sr., whose fatal encounter with law enforcement last year drew widespread attention and prompted policy changes within the Atlanta Police Department.
The jury returned a “no bill” decision, meaning there was insufficient evidence to proceed with criminal charges against former Officer Kiran Kimbrough, who used a Taser on Hollman during a traffic stop on Aug. 10, 2023.
Hollman, a church deacon, had just left Bible study and picked up dinner for his wife when he was involved in a minor crash near the intersection of Lowery Boulevard and Cunningham Place. According to body camera footage released by the department, the situation escalated when Hollman refused to sign a traffic citation and asked to speak with a supervisor. During the confrontation, Kimbrough deployed his Taser as the two struggled.
In the video, Hollman can be heard repeatedly saying, “I can’t breathe,” before losing consciousness. He was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The Fulton County Medical Examiner ruled Hollman’s death a homicide caused by cardiac dysrhythmia triggered by the Taser, with heart disease listed as a contributing factor.
Following the incident, Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum fired Kimbrough in October 2023, stating that the officer violated department policy by making an arrest before a supervisor arrived on the scene. In response to the incident, the department revised its procedures. Officers are now instructed to note “refusal to sign” on traffic tickets without making an arrest.
Hollman’s family has since filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Kimbrough, Chief Schierbaum, and the city of Atlanta, accusing them of excessive force and violations of Hollman’s constitutional rights. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court, was amended in December to include a tow truck driver who allegedly knelt on Hollman’s head and neck during the altercation.
Despite the grand jury’s decision, it remains unclear whether the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office intends to present the case again at a later date. Neither the DA’s office nor Hollman’s family has issued public comments since the announcement.
The case has fueled ongoing conversations around law enforcement accountability, use-of-force protocols, and the treatment of civilians during routine encounters. Hollman, a father and grandfather, was remembered by loved ones as a devoted family man and a respected member of his community.