“This was a very difficult decision choosing to settle this case,’’ Chief Deputy District Attorney Joe Roberts said.
Preston Cheyenne Johnson, 39, was initially charged with capital murder in the slaying of O’Rear.
“This was a very difficult decision choosing to settle this case. The defendant was looking at the possibility of the death penalty or life without parole and in my opinion when a police officer is murdered those sentences are absolutely appropriate,’’ Roberts said. “Nick’s parents have been very involved in every phase of the prosecution including the decision to settle the case and, under the circumstances, were satisfied with having the defendant admit his guilt and serve a 25-year state sentence to be followed by a 16-year federal sentence,’’ Roberts said.
The shooting happened Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020, on Interstate 65. O’Rear, a 33-year-old father of two with a child on the way, was struck in the head. He was pronounced dead in early the next morning at UAB Hospital.State Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Pete Acosta chronicled what happened that night. Glenn – the Warrior officer – was parked alongside I-65 and spotted an approaching black BMW.
That woman told police that when Johnson noticed a police officer behind him, he told her to grab a gun. She refused. Acosta said investigators had quickly identified Johnson as a suspect because of the vehicle’s description and law enforcement’s previous contact with him. A lookout bulletin was issued first to law enforcement only, but later a Blue Alert went out statewide.
It wasn’t clear in testimony how the woman was tracking her husband’s movements, but Acosta said it wasn’t through a phone app. Additionally, O’Rear’s vehicle suffered additional damage from crashing into the interstate median after he was shot.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Man wielding 'edged weapon' shot by LAPD officerAn investigation is underway Sunday after an armed suspect was shot by an LAPD officer earlier this morning.
Read more »
Man called 911 on himself before being shot by Springville officerSpringville police said a man who struck a police vehicle with his own car and then went after the officer with a knife had called 911 earlier in the night to report himself.
Read more »
South Euclid man who had meth mailed from California sentenced to 11 years in prisonMark Holt Williams, 29, of South Euclid, was sentenced after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio.
Read more »
Man sentenced to 9 years in prison in child sex trafficking case in LafayetteA man from Illinois was sentenced to nine years in prison after he was convicted of child sex trafficking-related charges in March.
Read more »
Contra Costa man gets 4 years prison in bank fraud, mail theft schemeAn East Bay man has been sentenced to federal prison for his role in a mail theft and bank fraud scheme that involved victims throughout Northern California, prosecutors said.
Read more »