Georgia NAACP Urges Fulton County District Attorney to Appeal Federal Ruling in the Killing of Jimmy Atchison

MEDIA ADVISORY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 4, 2025

Georgia NAACP calls for Appeal in the Jimmy Atchison’s shooting death case against Former Officer Sung Kim

ATLANTA, GA — The Georgia State Conference of the NAACP is calling on the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office to immediately appeal the deeply troubling decision issued this week by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia in the case of former Atlanta Police Officer Sung Kim.

The court's ruling, which dismisses the grand jury indictment against Kim—who shot and killed unarmed 21-year-old Jimmy Atchison while he was surrendering—sets a dangerous legal precedent. If left unchallenged, the decision effectively shields federally deputized officers from accountability, even when they kill unarmed civilians under questionable circumstances.

“This ruling is not just a blow to the Atchison family’s pursuit of justice—it’s a threat to civil rights and public safety across the nation,” said Attorney Gerald A. Griggs, President of the Georgia NAACP. “We strongly urge District Attorney Fani Willis to file an immediate appeal to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, and, if necessary, to take this fight to the United States Supreme Court.”

The Georgia NAACP has stood with the Atchison family for over six years, demanding transparency, accountability, and justice. The organization emphasizes that this case is not only about one young man—it’s about ensuring that law enforcement is held to the same standards under the law, regardless of their federal status.

The NAACP is also calling on national civil rights organizations, elected officials, and community leaders to join in amplifying the demand for justice in this case.