CO’s Killer Is Convicted For Fatal Shooting

CO's Killer Is Convicted For Fatal Shooting

Brooklyn District Attorney Charles J. Hynes Jan. 20 announced the second-degree murder conviction of James Johnson for fatally shooting an off-duty Correction Officer in 2002.

At the time of the shooting, CO Andrew Morgan was dating Mr. Johnson's estranged wife, who was also a Correction Officer. Mr. Morgan and the woman both worked in the Rose M. Singer Center on Rikers Island.

Shot Leaving Her Home

According to authorities, shortly after 9 p.m. on April 4, 2002, Mr. Johnson spotted Officer Morgan leaving his wife's apartment. Mr. Johnson fatally shot him four times after he got into his car, investigators said.

After the shooting, Mr. Johnson fled to Alabama, living with relatives until November 2004, when he was arrested by local police on a narcotics charge. He was extradited to Brooklyn on murder charges in February 2005.

"Officer Morgan never had a chance to defend himself," said Norman Seabrook, the president of the Correction Officers' Benevolent Association. "He will be remembered forever as one of the very best of New York's Boldest."

Mr. Johnson, who faces 25 years to life, will be sentenced Feb. 8.