Alabama officer shot, killed during chase; suspect charged with murder
Published 9:02 am Wednesday, February 5, 2020
An Alabama police officer was shot and killed overnight during a police chase on Interstate 65, when suspects in the car being chased began shooting at the pursuing officers.
Four people were later detained in the incident.
One of the four, Preston Johnson, was arrested early Wednesday and booked into the Jefferson County Jail at 5:39 a.m. on a charge of capital murder of a police officer.
The identity of the officer has not been released.
The incident began, police report, as Warrior officers attempted to stop a car on Interstate 65 near Birmingham at approximately 10 p.m. Tuesday.
A chase ensued and an officer from the town of Kimberly joined the chase.
The shots were fired and the Kimberly officer was struck.
The suspects escaped the scene, but were eventually located and arrested near Dora. Four people were arrested, including Johnson.
The officer was transported to UAB hospital, but apparently later succumbed to the critical gunshot wounds and died.
Johnson, who was listed in arrest records as being 37 years old and from Addison, Alabama, is reportedly a convicted felon. He was arrest last year on charges of stealing a car and possession of methamphetamine.