Grief and support over murdered cop

Members of Houston’s community banded together to raise donations to the family of Officer Rodney Johnson, allegedly slain by an illegal immigrant on September 21. Volunteers wielded buckets and brushes to wash cars and raise funds for the widow of Officer Johnson, and also stopped motorists in Houston to ask for donations. By the evening of Sunday September 24th, the group had raised over $7,000 for Johnson’s widow and five children. Members of the community cited Johnson’s kindness and professionalism in his service to the city.

The murder of Officer Johnson is raising concerns about conflicts between Houston’s immigrant Hispanics and native-born black communities; in addition, the Houston police department’s current policy of not questioning suspects about their immigrant status. Police Chief Harold Hurtt appeared on national television to defend this policy and to declare that he would need another 2.500 officers in order to address illegal immigration in his city. Hurtt blamed the Federal government for inadequately defending Texas’ border with Mexico where thousands of illegal immigrants cross into the US every year. Estimates of the number of illegal immigrants living in Houston range from 250,000 to 400,000.

Mexican national Juan Leonardo Quintero (32) was stopped on September 21 by Officer Johnson near the Houston’s Hobby airport for a traffic violation and arrested because of Quintero’s failure to bear any identification. Quintero was driving a pickup truck and was accompanied by a female companion who fled the scene. Houston police are not quite certain exactly what then transpired once Quintero was handcuffed and seated in the rear seat of Officer Johnson’ patrol car. According to procedure, Officer Johnson would have frisked the suspect and searched for any weapons on his person. However, the officer apparently failed to notice a pistol in the alleged murderer’s waistband.

Somehow, Quintero was then able to fire four shots into the face and head of Officer Johnson who was later declared dead at Ben Taub Hospital in Houston. Quintero was still in the back seat of the police vehicle and in possession of the apparent murder weapon, an automatic pistol, when other police officers arrived.

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Grief and support over murdered cop
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