Man sentenced to 20 years in prison for 2023 shooting of Arizona DPS officer

Lina Portman2 weeks ago

2 1 minute read

The man convicted of shooting an Arizona Department of Public Safety officer in May 2023 was sentenced Friday to 20 years in prison, the Maricopa County Prosecutor's Office announced.

Howard Lamar Johnson III, who was 34 at the time, fled the scene of an accident in north Phoenix on May 30, 2023.

When a DPS trooper stopped him and attempted to arrest Johnson, he fired several shots and seriously injured the trooper before the trooper returned fire.

The officer was taken to hospital where he recovered after a brief stay.

Read more about the incident: Suspect in shooting of DPS trooper identified by Phoenix police

According to county prosecutors, Johnson had multiple felony convictions at the time of the incident and was prohibited from possessing a firearm.

A Maricopa County Attorney's Office policy requires prosecutors to seek sentencing when a convicted felon is found in possession of a deadly weapon.

In May 2023, he was charged with aggravated assault and misconduct involving weapons, according to Phoenix police.

Johnson pleaded guilty to the aggravated assault charge on May 9, 2024, the county attorney's office said in a statement, and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

“He is a dangerous criminal who should not have had a weapon on him, and yet he did,” said County Prosecutor Rachel Mitchell. “Through this policy, we assure the public that people who illegally possess a weapon and pose a threat to our community will face serious consequences. »

Lina Portman

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