Mother of Alexia Christian confronts APD Chief Turner, demands transparency in police shooting investigation

What began as a neighborhood “Coffee with a Cop” event at a IHOP in Greenbriar Mall ended with Atlanta Police Chief George Turner being forced to meet face-to-face with family members of a woman who was shot and killed by officers more than four months ago.
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? “Let’s have a dialogue,” Turner said to a room packed with concerned residents, police, and local politicians, kicking off the event.
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? During the question-and-answer period, the chief was met with an onslaught of questions. An elderly women said the police were following her. One community member asked for more meetings with police. Others complained of drug dealers taking over their streets and kids not having enough opportunities to succeed.
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? Turner said the drug problem needed to be looked at “holistically.” He said “we have to do this together. We have to find a way together.”
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? While the Chief was speaking inside the restaurant, a crowd of protesters gathered outside loudly chanting “What are you hiding APD?” They wanted more information about the death of Alexia Christian, the 26-year-old woman who was shot 10 times while sitting in the back of a police car four months ago in Downtown.
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? In response to Creative Loafing’s request for an update on the case, APD Spokesperson Suzanne Forte said the department has turned over the investigation to Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard. 
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? Aside from police releasing details about the victim’s past arrest record and claiming that the woman shot at police after escaping from handcuffs, no additional information has been released. Midway through the “Coffee with a cop,” Alexia’s grandfather, Lucius Christian, approached Turner.  He asked the chief to meet with Alexia’s mother, Felecia Christian, who was leading protesters outside.
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? ??? After the meeting ended, Turner spoke outside with Felecia Christian, who read a list of demands. He asked her to meet with him in a private meeting inside the restaurant. She initially refused, saying she would not meet unless the media and activists were also invited.
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? “If nothing is hidden, we should have an open, transparent conversation,” she said. “Tell me why my daughter has
? been shot. My daughter was maliciously killed, she was shot 10 times.”
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? Felecia Christian demanded Turner release all surveillance tapes of her daughter’s death and the discipline histories of the officers who killed her. The chief refused the request. Eventually Felecia agreed to meet with the chief privately.
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? Felecia Christian said after her meeting with Turner that she was not satisfied with his answers. She said the chief apologized for her loss and committed to an open and transparent investigation, but said there was nothing he could do until the investigation was complete. According to Forte, Turner also called the family after the event.
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? “I am still at square one,” she said after the meeting. “My daughter’s record was plastered all over the television. She was dehumanized… I did not get what I wanted.”
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? The family and supporters were scheduled to hold a press conference at 2 p.m. at the entrance to Underground Atlanta, near the area where Alexia Christian was killed.
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