Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, awarded a sacking police officer a few days after the officer was sentenced to jail for shooting and killing an unarmed man accused of stealing sunglasses.
Wesley Shifflett, 36, was sentenced to three years in jail after being convicted of reckless firearms on February 22, 2023 for Timothy McCree Johnson, 37. At the time of Johnson’s death, he was acquitted for involuntary homicide.
Youngkin awarded Shifflett a lawsuit Sunday allowing the officer to be liberated from prison, although his felony will remain.
“I firmly believe that the court’s imprisonment sentence is unfair and violates the cornerstone of our judicial system – people in the same position will be subject to a proportion of sentences,” Youngkin said in a statement. “I want to emphasize that the jury’s innocence charges against Shivlit is more serious and the charges for involuntary homicide are even more serious, which is a sentencing guideline that advises not to go to jail or up to six months in prison.”
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Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin presented his annual Commonwealth address at the joint Virginia Conference in Richmond, Virginia on January 13, 2025. (AP)
“In this case, the court dismissed the recommendation of senior probation and parole officials, without jailing or supervising probation, but instead sentenced five years in prison, the two were suspended and another five years of probation,” the governor continued. “Sgt. Shifflett has no previous criminal record and is a model police officer in all cases. In the interest of justice, he was released immediately.”
Youngkin also noted that his broadway did not limit Shifflett’s right to convict of reckless firearms.
Johnson’s mother Melissa Johnson said Youngkin’s decision seemed to confirm Shifflett’s killing of his son.
“Why now we think it is necessary to evacuate or ignore the jury’s verdict and think that this glorious and fair judge did not sentence the verdict in the criteria he paid?” she said in a press conference on Monday. “I don’t know where everyone comes from – if it’s because my son is black, or because it’s trying to shop, or because he’s not here to defend himself.”
Fairfax County federal attorney Steve Descano, a Democrat-in-the-job prosecution, said in a press conference that the governor “glues his face where he doesn’t belong.”
“If you care about having a fair justice system in Virginia that is not restricted by external influence, Glenn Youngkin spits out his face,” Descano said.
On March 7, 2023, you can see the Court of Fairfax County, Virginia, Virginia. (AP)
Descano also argued that the governor was working with “a white officer convicted of a black man being killed.”
During the trial, prosecutors argued that Schifflet killed Johnson when he shot Johnson after a brief pursuit outside Tysons Corner Center Center, compared to the sergeant of Fairfax County police. Police received reports from security guards that Johnson stole sunglasses from Nordstrom Department Store.
Shifflett and another officer chased Johnson to a wooded area near the mall, and Shifflett fired twice at Johnson, who was unarmed.
The former sergeant testified that he believed Johnson shot Johnson in self-defense after he fell and reached to his waist.
The human-camera video played during the trial showed Shifflett shouting “Go to the field” before shooting Johnson two seconds later. After firing the weapon, Shivlit immediately shouted, “Stop reaching out” and he allegedly observed Johnson putting his hand on his waist.
Shifflett testified that his “motor function works faster than I can say.”
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Fairfax County federal prosecutor Steve Descano spoke at an event at the Center for Progress Tuesday, December 17, 2019. (Getty Image)
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Johnson was heard saying on the video: “I didn’t reach out. I had nothing.”
Melissa Robey, executive director of police advocacy group We Black Blue, said Monday that Shifflett’s mother called her three weeks ago to ask for help regarding her son’s upcoming verdict hearing.
Robey, who worked in Youngkin’s administration, said she contacted Shifflett’s lawyers, who eventually lobbied the governor’s leniency.
“Someone has to say ‘enough,'” Robe said. “These guys put that uniform every day – they’re on your worst day. When should I stand up for them?”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
