*A Virginia police officer has been fired after he shot and killed an unarmed shoplifting suspect in Fairfax County last month.
Timothy Johnson, 37, had allegedly stolen items from a Tysons Corner shopping center on February 22, when Sergeant Wesley Shifflett and Police Officer First Class James Sadler responded to the scene, CNN reports. During their encounter, both officers fired at Johnson outside a shopping mall for allegedly stealing sunglasses.
According to a news release from the Fairfax County police, “Sergeant Wesley Shifflett, a 7-year veteran of the department and Police Officer First Class James Sadler, an 8-year veteran of the department discharged their firearms.”
Shifflett and Sadler fired three total shots, and Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davi confirmed Shifflett fired the fatal shot. He was fired from the force for disobeying use-of-force rules.
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Timothy Johnson’s family speaks out as bodycam footage is released of fatal police shooting. @pierretabc reports. pic.twitter.com/1qVpgR7CSL
— Good Morning America (@GMA) March 24, 2023
“The officer’s actions do not meet the expectations of our police department – in particular, use of force policies, protocols and procedures,” Davis told reporters on Thursday after releasing bodycam footage showing the police shooting of Johnson. “He will no longer be a Fairfax County police officer.”
The footage shows the officers chasing Johnson through the property of the shopping mall while shouting verbal commands. Two gunshots can be heard and one officer says, “stop reaching.” Johnson can be heard screaming, “I’m not reaching for nothing. I don’t have nothing.”
Another shot is fired and Johnson’s body is seen on the ground. The officers perform CPR until paramedics arrive.
Additional responding officers later arrive and Shifflett can be heard saying, “He didn’t get any rounds off. I don’t know if he’s armed. He was continually reaching in his waistband. I told him, ‘Let me see your hands. Let me see your hands.’”
The bodycam footage does not show Shifflett saying this to Johnson prior to the shooting.
He is now under criminal investigation.
Shifflett’s attorney, Caleb Kershner, said Johnson refused police commands so his client was simply protecting himself believing he was in danger of being physically harmed or seriously injured.
“Timothy was unarmed and shoplifting,” Johnson’s mother, Melissa Johnson told WJLA earlier this month. “What played out on the news was a judge, jury and an execution-style murder.”
According to Davis, Sadler has been placed on modified restricted duty.
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