Ex-Fairfax Officer Indicted In Death Of DC Man Suspected Of Stealing Sunglasses At Tysons

TYSONS, VA — A former Fairfax County police officer has been indicted on a charge of manslaughter in the fatal shooting of a Washington, D.C., man accused of stealing a pair of designer sunglasses from Nordstrom at Tysons Corner Center.

Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano said Thursday that a special grand jury has indicted Wesley Shifflett for shooting and killing Timothy McCree Johnson, 37. Shifflett faces felony charges for involuntary manslaughter and reckless discharge of a weapon.

Johnson, 37, was shot and killed Feb. 22 in a wooded area near the shopping mall after a foot chase and orders by officers to get on the ground, according to police. He was taken by medics to an area hospital, where he died.

An officer saw Johnson leaving Nordstrom near a parking garage. As he left the store, an anti-theft alarm was activated, police said. The suspect then ran through the parking garage, across the parking lot and into a wooded area while the officers gave him repeated commands to get on the ground, according to police.

Two police officers fired their guns, according to police, striking Johnson in the chest one time.

After reviewing the evidence in this case, Descano said he believes that probable cause existed that Shifflett committed a crime, and all the evidence should be put to a jury.

“The work of public safety includes charging officers for crimes when such actions are legally warranted," Descano said in a statement. "Seeking justice blindly in cases involving officers improves public trust in the law enforcement agencies that serve and protect our communities; failing to do so disgraces the role of prosecutor and ruins the public’s trust in the justice system.

“Our nation’s justice system has historically been stacked in favor of protecting powerful institutions and individuals, and it is no small feat that the grand jurors returned a true bill after reviewing this matter,” he added.

Descano said he cannot imagine the pain Johnson’s family has endured since his death.

"Though the grand jury returned an indictment for this incident, this will not heal the wound in the Johnson family," Descano said. "I join the rest of the Fairfax County community in grieving for Timothy and his family.”

“As the elected head of Fairfax County’s justice system, my primary goal is to keep this community safe, and I have the utmost respect for the police officers throughout Fairfax County who work tirelessly to protect our community,” Descano said.

A court date will be set on Friday, Oct. 20.