Surveillance video to be released in Kendrick Johnson’s death

A south Georgia judge has ruled that video taken in the Lowndes High School gym on the day Kendrick Johnson died will be released.

11Alive Reports:

The ruling came after a meeting in Judge Harry Altman’s chambers among the judge and attorneys for Johnson’s parents, the local sheriff’s office and the Lowndes County School District.

Johnson was found dead inside a rolled-up wrestling mat in the Valdosta high school’s gym in January.

Wednesday’s ruling means that Johnson’s parents will finally be allowed to watch the video that may reveal how their son died — something they’ve been asking to do for weeks.

Judge Altman told 11Alive’s Blayne Alexander that it was a very productive meeting.

The teen’s family agreed.

“This is not a home run, but it gets us on first base,” said Benjamin Crump, an attorney for the Johnson family who also worked on behalf of Trayvon Martin’s family.

Crump added that Johnson’s family will put in a formal request for the U.S. Department of Justice to intervene in the case.

The video features hours of footage taken on cameras located inside and outside the gym. Altman’s ruling allows the Johnsons’ attorneys to view unredacted copies of all the video files.

The Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office was originally reluctant to release the video, saying it featured minors who did not consent to having their images shown.

Johnson’s family has also asked for a coroner’s inquest into their son’s death. Altman will rule on that request on Monday.