VIDEO: Officer Shoots, Kills Man in Midst of Decapitation
Texas officer no-billed in the incident
By Calibre Press | May 21, 2017
A Lufkin Police officer has been no-billed in the March shooting death of an aggravated assault suspect.
The incident involving six-year officer Blake Witherspoon was presented to an Angelina County grand jury Tuesday, resulting in a no-bill, according to a Lufkin Police Department press release. A “no-bill” means the grand jury concluded that Witherspoon acted appropriately and that they saw no grounds to indict him on a criminal charge.
Witherspoon shot and killed Epthen Johnson, 40, of Lufkin, in the early morning hours of March 1 in the 400 block of Kurth Drive following a 911 call from a witness who saw Johnson attacking a man; the witness described the scene as a man being “knifed to death.”
Witherspoon arrived to see Johnson crouched on top of the man, stabbing and cutting at his head and neck. Witherspoon commanded Johnson multiple times to show his hands, but Johnson did not acknowledge the officer’s presence and continued stabbing at the man.
“Recognizing the signs of PCP intoxication, (Witherspoon) did not believe a Taser would be an effective tool in stopping Johnson’s attack,” the press release stated.
Calibre Press
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