DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF News) – The jury is still out following the sentencing hearing for a former Farmers Branch police officer who was convicted of murder and aggravated assault.
Ken Johnson was found guilty last month, stemming from an incident almost two years ago where he chased two teenagers in his car while he was off duty after they broke into his vehicle.
Surveillance video showed Johnson ramming the boys’ car, then approaching them and opening fire.
16-year-old Jose Cruz was killed in the shooting and his friend was seriously injured.
During testimony, Johnson said he reacted so swiftly to chase the teens because the car they were driving in was reported to be involved in several burglaries.
“Call after call after call. They just kept terrorizing the city just about every day. So, I knew I had to catch him…to do something,” he said.
Numerous family members testified on Johnson’s behalf and said that he is not the monster that they said some are portraying him as. The fact that Johnson was smiling in his mugshot didn’t help his image.
Johnson said the reason he was smiling was because that is his reaction to intense stress.
“You know I smile through the bad times. That picture has a lot of pain inside. The picture is not a joke,” he said.
Deliberations will resume Tuesday morning. Johnson is facing up to life in prison.
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