A former police officer in Virginia, 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. Shifflett claimed self-defense, stating he feared Johnson was reaching for a weapon, leading to the shooting. Prosecutors criticized Shifflett’s decisions leading up to the event, including his chase into a wooded area at night without waiting for backup. The bodycam video of the incident was inconclusive, showing Shifflett firing two shots at Johnson after yelling for him to get on the ground. Chief Kevin Davis fired Shifflett for violating use-of-force policies, though he noted the ambiguity of the video. Prosecutors faced challenges in presenting their case, with a special grand jury ultimately indicting Shifflett on charges including involuntary manslaughter and reckless handling of a firearm. The trial experienced delays and a mistrial scare during closing arguments. Shifflett will be sentenced in February for the reckless discharge of a firearm charge, which is a felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison.
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