FAIRFAX, Va. — Timothy Johnson’s mother says although she hasn’t heard condolences from former Sgt. Wesley Shifflett or his family, that she forgives him.
“I’m grateful,” Timothy Johnson’s mother Melissa Johnson said. She feels no malice toward Shifflet.
On Friday, a jury found the ex-police officer who shot and killed her son not guilty on involuntary manslaughter charges.
“Together we stand for justice for Timothy,” Melissa Johnson said. “Let’s accept that the jury did the best that they could with what they had to work with, and the same with the Commonwealth’s Attorney's Office. They came as a team in one week to pull this together and thank God it didn’t end in a mistrial.”
It’s not the verdict this family hoped for but it’s something they’ve accepted.
“Today’s verdict has provided Mr. Shifflett a second chance, a benefit that my son Timothy Johnson was not afforded,” Melissa Johnson said.
The charges stemmed from a chase from Tyson's Corner Center last year during which Shifflett shot and killed Timothy Johnson, who was not armed. The jury did find former Shifflett guilty of reckless handling of a weapon.
“I want to acknowledge that most Black and Brown families who find themselves in the same situation do not get this far and so I am grateful,” Melissa Johnson said.
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Melissa Johnson did acknowledge all the hard work and progress made for her and her family throughout this legal process.
Timothy Johnson's family and prosecutors argued Shifflett acted recklessly that night.
Shifflett took the stand on Tuesday and said that he feared for his life because he thought Timothy Johnson was reaching for a gun in his waistband when he tripped during their chase.
“There are still institutional barriers to holding law-enforcement officers accountable when they break the law,” Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano said.
WUSA9 has not heard back from the defense attorney about the verdict. Sentencing for the weapons charge is scheduled for February.