Man sentenced to probation for fatal shooting of Detroit police officer

(CBS DETROIT) – A Garden City man has been sentenced to three years of probation in connection with the 2019 fatal shooting of Detroit police Sgt. Elaine Williams.

Eddie Ray-Jr. Johnson pleaded no contest to manslaughter with the probation deal. If violated, he will be sentenced to a minimum of 57 months to a maximum of 95 months to 15 years in prison, according to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office.

Authorities said Johnson and Williams were in a relationship.

Prosecutors said that on June 2, 2019, Garden City police went to a home on Belton Street where they found Williams dead inside the home and Johnson with a gunshot wound to the abdomen. Johnson told police that Williams shot him and then shot him during a fight.

An investigation determined they had been out with their neighbors at a local bar. Neighbors reported hearing the couple arguing when they returned home. A neighbor said he heard several gunshots in the house and then saw Johnson come out of the house with a gunshot wound.

Toxicology reports show Williams had a blood alcohol level of 0.240 at the time of his death and Johnson had a blood alcohol level of 0.189.

Investigators found eight shell casings in the home identified as coming from a .40 caliber pistol issued to Williams during his employment with DPD.

“I take all domestic violence cases very seriously. I also take my role as a prosecutor very seriously. The evidence was carefully reviewed by three seasoned assistant prosecutors and myself. In this case, where both parties were shot with the same weapon, the order of “The events are open to multiple interpretations. Given our burden of proof, we believe this is an appropriate solution. The decision to offer this plea to this defendant was not what we wanted to do, but it was the right thing to do,” prosecutor Kym. Digne said in a statement.