Officer fatally shot by suspect in patrol carMan taken into police custody

(9/21/06 - KTRK/HOUSTON) - An HPD officer was fatally shot by a suspect he pulled over on a traffic stop Thursday.


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Video: Mayor Bill White and HPD Chief Harold Hurtt address the media following the fatal shooting of an officer Thursday.
The incident happened on Randolph at Braniff, just south of Hobby Airport at about 5:30pm. Officer Rodney Johnson pulled over a large white pickup with a man and a woman inside.

The male was handcuffed and placed in the back seat of Johnson's patrol car. Somehow, the suspect shot Officer Johnson as he sat in the front seat of the vehicle. Johnson was able to push an emergency button, alerting dispatch.

Officers arrived at the scene to find the suspect still sitting in the patrol car still in handcuffs. A weapon was recovered at the scene. The man was taken into custody.



Officer Rodney Johnson was a 12 year veteran of the Houston Police force.
Officer Johnson was taken to Ben Taub Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. He is survived by his wife, Joselyn Johnson, who is also a member of the HPD force. The couple have five children, ages 14 to 19.

Officer Johnson was 40 years old. He was a 12 year veteran of the force. Before becoming an officer, he was a jailer.

The suspect is described as an Hispanic male, about 32 years old. He is in police custody, but they have not been able to verify his identity.

The woman who was in the vehicle during the traffic stop apparently walked away from the scene. Police have been in contact with her. She's believed to be cooperating with police.
(Copyright © 2006, KTRK-TV)