Former police officer Wesley Shifflett was acquitted of involuntary manslaughter but convicted of reckless handling of a firearm after fatally shooting a shoplifting suspect, Timothy McCree Johnson, outside a shopping mall in Virginia in February 2023. Shifflett claimed self defense, stating he feared Johnson was reaching for a weapon. Despite the dimly lit bodycam video being inconclusive, it showed Shifflett firing two shots at Johnson.
Prosecutors argued that Shifflett’s decisions, including chasing Johnson into a wooded area at night without backup, were reckless. Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis fired Shifflett for violating use-of-force policies, but also acknowledged the ambiguity in the bodycam video. Prosecutors, who faced challenges in presenting their case, secured indictments on charges of involuntary manslaughter and reckless handling of a firearm through a special grand jury convened by Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano.
Shifflett will be sentenced in February for the reckless discharge of a firearm charge, which is a felony with a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison. The trial faced delays due to a lead prosecutor’s medical issue and concerns about potentially declaring a mistrial. The case highlighted the challenges and complexities of holding police officers accountable for misconduct, as well as the ambiguity in interpreting evidence, such as bodycam footage, in cases involving the use of deadly force by law enforcement officers.
Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com