Shifflett Convicted, Acquitted in Shooting Case

Former Fairfax County police officer Wesley Shifflett was convicted of reckless handling of a firearm but acquitted of involuntary manslaughter for the shooting death of Timothy McCree Johnson, an unarmed Black man accused of shoplifting sunglasses from a Nordstrom store. The incident occurred in February 2023 after a foot chase outside Tysons Corner Center in Virginia, where Shifflett claimed self-defense, believing Johnson was reaching for a weapon. Prosecutors argued Shifflett acted recklessly by firing shots without confirming a threat. The trial included a controversial video mishap during closing arguments, nearly leading to a mistrial, but ultimately, the defense chose not to pursue it. Johnson's mother, Melissa, expressed gratitude for the trial's progress, noting the rarity of such cases reaching this stage for Black and brown families.