Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin has granted clemency to a former police sergeant who shot and killed an unarmed man accused of stealing sunglasses. The former sergeant, Wesley Shifflett, was sentenced to three years in prison for recklessly handling a firearm during the shooting incident that took place on February 22, 2023. The jury acquitted him of involuntary manslaughter, but he will retain his felony conviction.
Governor Youngkin's decision to grant clemency was based on his belief that the court's sentence was unjust and did not align with sentencing guidelines recommending no incarceration for Shifflett. The incident involved Shifflett, then a sergeant with Fairfax County police, chasing and fatally shooting Timothy McCree Johnson after a report of theft from a department store.
During the trial, prosecutors argued that Shifflett acted recklessly when he shot Johnson, claiming self-defense after Johnson allegedly reached into his waistband. Body-camera footage showed the events leading up to the shooting, with Shifflett yelling commands at Johnson before firing two shots. Johnson's cries for help and denial of reaching for anything were also captured on video.
The legal battle following the shooting included Shifflett's termination from the police department, a grand jury's initial decision not to indict him, and a subsequent indictment after a reinvestigation. Despite efforts to set aside the verdict, the court upheld Shifflett's conviction, leading to Governor Youngkin's clemency decision.
The case has sparked controversy, with the Democratic commonwealth's attorney expressing outrage at the governor's action and Johnson's family planning to address the decision publicly. The complex circumstances surrounding the shooting and subsequent legal proceedings have raised questions about justice and accountability in the criminal justice system.
