Board says officer justified in shooting

2/2/2007

The Toledo Police Department's firearms review board decided unanimously yesterday that an officer was justified in shooting a man accused of pointing a gun at him and his partner during an incident in November.

Officer Michael Murphy shot Charles Johnson, 26, of West Toledo twice during the incident Nov. 8 at 727 North Michigan St.

Police went to the residence after a woman, described as Mr. Johnson's girlfriend, called 911 and told police she escaped the home after she was held at gunpoint for about four hours during a domestic dispute.

When Mr. Johnson answered the door, police saw him put something behind his back. From earlier conversations with the dispatcher, officers knew he possibly had a gun.

Police said he refused to show his hands when ordered to do so, then displayed a handgun off to his side. He was shot when he pointed the gun at Officer Murphy, who ordered him to drop the weapon.

Police said Mr. Johnson may have wanted officers to shoot him based on a note found in his pants pocket, his actions, and the woman's statements.

He was treated at St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center and indicted on one count of felonious assault with a firearms specification. A pretrial is set for Monday in Lucas County Common Pleas Court.