The man who shot and killed the girlfriend of a Detroit police sergeant will likely not serve any prison time after reaching his prison sentence. plea bargain together with the prosecutor.
The plea deal stems from an incident several years ago that appeared to be domestic violence. In June 2019, Eddie Ray Jr., 35 years old. Johnson’s live-in girlfriend, Elaine Williams, a 34-year-old mother of two who has been with DPD for 14 years, went out for drinks with neighbors at a local bar.
“I know a lot of police officers are not happy about this.”
When everyone returned to their respective homes in the Detroit suburb of Garden City, Michigan, neighbors heard Johnson and Williams arguing, court documents said.
Then, just before midnight, police received a report of a shooting at the couple’s residence. When police arrived, they found Williams already dead with five gunshot wounds. Johnson had also been shot once in his abdomen. That night, Williams and Johnson’s blood alcohol levels were at least twice the legal limit for driving in Michigan.
Eight .40 caliber shell casings, all from Williams police-issued Smith & Wesson pistols, were eventually recovered near her body. detroit news report. Police said at least one of Williams’ two children was also at the residence at the time of the incident.
Johnson was quickly arrested and taken to the hospital. During her initial interrogation after her surgery, prosecutors said, Johnson claimed that she shot Williams in self-defense “after she shot Mr. Williams once.”Johnson was then Paid for first-degree murder and felonious use of a firearm.
On Friday, prosecutors offered Johnson, now 40, a plea deal that would include no prison time but three years of probation. If he violates the terms of his probation, he could be sentenced to 57 months to 15 years in prison. Instead, Mr. Johnson, who appeared in court in his wheelchair and with a brace on his arm, vowed to plead no contest to manslaughter.
The sentence has not yet been finalized because Johnson’s plea deal must be approved by a judge. Johnson’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 14 before Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Charlies Anderson.
Wayne County Prosecutor Kim Worthy said in a statement that the plea agreement was the best action her office could take with the evidence available. “In this case, both parties were shot with the same gun, so the sequence of events can be interpreted in many ways,” she said. “Given our burden of proof, we believe this is an appropriate solution.”
Detroit Police Chief James White appears to have resigned as well. “The hearts of the Detroit Police Department remain broken by the tragic death of Officer Elaine Williams,” White said in a statement. “While this plea agreement is not the outcome that DPD wanted for Sergeant Williams’ loved ones, we understand the unique circumstances of this case and therefore accept the prosecutor’s decision.”
But former Detroit Police Deputy Chief Steve Dorndt expressed “shock” at Johnson’s likely sentence of life in prison, calling it “very lenient.” “I don’t know all the facts, but probation seems to be very lenient,” Dorndt said. “It looks like they could have at least charged him with manslaughter. I know a lot of officers aren’t happy about this.”
Johnson’s attorney, Raymond Burkett, did not respond to a request for comment from The Detroit News.
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