A Fort Worth, Texas police officer Courtney Johnson, 35, faced a charge of aggravated assault by a public servant. If convicted, he could face up to 99 years or life in prison.
A Tarrant County judge declared a mistrial in the case of officer Johnson, who shot Craigory Adams. The man was standing in his yard holding a barbecue fork.
Prosecutors argued that officer Johnson was reckless back in June 2015 when he responded to a 911 call about a prowler with a knife and encountered then 54-year-old Craig Adams in his own driveway with an object in his hand.
It turned out, Adams had a barbecue fork in his hand. Prosecutors pointed out that even though he put the fork down and had gotten down on one knee, Johnson still shot him with a shotgun.
Activists supporting and representing the African American community and the Adams Family are deeply upset about the verdict.
Jacqueline Craig says,
“I’m really hurt right now, because I have to accept the fact that we, as African Americans, our tax dollars are actually paying the police officers to murder and brutalize us. We don’t get the justice we deserve here.”
District Attorney Sharen Wilson released a statement Wednesday saying they’re considering whether a retrial is justified. Her spokeswoman later said that decision could come in the coming days. Rod Smith said,
“We’re going to continue to beg Sharen Wilson’s office to retry this case, because this case has enough merit that we can walk away with a guilty verdict. Because he did it recklessly.”
No one from the family was present during the reading of the verdict, members of family also declined to make any comments.
The jury deliberated for four and a half hours Tuesday, and almost two hours Wednesday. Although the judge asked the jury to reconsider and keep deliberating. They sent back a note saying they were deadlocked 5-7 and wouldn’t agree on a verdict.
The judge declared a mistrial around 11:20 a.m. Officer Courtney Johnson left court Wednesday surrounded by police officers, and made no comment.
Flip the page to check out the dash cam clip, photo of the victim and more.