The mother of the Washington, D.C. man who was suspected of shoplifting and fatally shot by two officers last week says her son was unarmed when he was killed and is demanding “the truth” come to light.
Timothy McCree Johnson, 37, was a father of two who loved fashion and clothing design and wanted to go to barber school to get his life back on track after serving time, his mother, Melissa Johnson, said.
He had previously pleaded guilty to theft and assault charges and had been convicted on federal gun charges.
Melissa Johnson’s now trying to piece together the events that led to his death Wednesday, but so far, police have released few details.
“We just want to know what happened. We want to know the truth,” Johnson said.
She called out police for speculating whether her son had a gun and “villainizing him” before the investigation was complete.
On Monday, police confirmed that no gun had been found after the incident. “The search of the area has concluded and no weapon was found,” police said.
“He made a mistake. But at some point those who are sworn to protect and serve should not have the right to be judge, jury and executioner at the same time,” Johnson said.
What happened before the shooting
Loss prevention officers responded to the Nordstrom at the Tysons Corner Center shopping mall in Fairfax County, Virginia, about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday on a report of a man suspected of stealing designer sunglasses, police said.
Police Chief Kevin Davis said Wednesday night that two department officers — one uniformed and another in plain clothes — approached the suspect, who fled and launched a foot pursuit.
Timothy Johnson ran through the parking garage and lot into a wooded area, “while the officers gave him commands to get on the ground,” police said.
“While in the wooded area, two officers discharged their firearms, striking Johnson in the chest one time,” police said. Johnson was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead,…
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