Video: Mother of Timothy McCree Johnson Says “Gov. Youngkin’s Actions [in Pardoning Police Officer Who Shot Her Son] Are Egregious, Malicious and Prejudiced”; Adds, “if this is the legacy that Gov. Youngkin wants to leave behind, then so be it – that’s also between him and his god.”

See below (and here) for video of a press conference by Fairfax Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano “with Melissa Johnson (the mother of Timothy McCree Johnson, who was shot and killed by FCPD Sgt. Wesley Shifflett in a “2023 encounter…outside Tysons Corner Center mall”) to answer questions about the Governor’s decision to commute the sentence of…Shifflett.” In her statement, Johnson called Youngkin’s actions “egregious, malicious and prejudiced,” and that while Youngkin “has the right to pardon,” normally “the pardon process…takes up to two years and only after heavy investigation on all sides of the issues.” In stark contrast, this pardon was issued “not in two years, but in two days.” Johnson added that Youngkin overrode the court’s ruling despite evidence, testimony, etc., especially given that – as she argued – Shifflett “lied and he broke the law,” and that “if this is the legacy that Gov. Youngkin wants to leave behind, then so be it, that’s also between him and his god.”  She said the question is WHY Youngkin did this, noting that Youngkin came to the rescue “without doing any fact checking,” and stating that we are at an “impasse” in this country. Powerful words.

Fairfax C.A. Descano adds in his statement:

I’ve been sounding the alarm bells for years now: Governor Sweater-Vest is trying his hardest to imitate the far-right extremist in the White House.

The shameful, unjust, craven political stunts of Glenn Youngkin have no place in Virginia.

Youngkin has abused his office, time and time again, to further his political ambitions. Especially after his dreams of running for President in 2024 were dashed, the Governor has turned to even more insane measures to stay relevant in a party spiraling further to the extreme.

By commuting the sentence of a police officer convicted of such a serious crime, Governor Youngkin is willfully eroding the public’s trust in our justice system.

Sadly, I don’t think he cares.

President Trump has promised to abuse our justice system to score political points – and Youngkin is making it abundantly clear that he will do the same in the waning days of his administration.

This commutation further alienates Virginians from the justice system, and sends a clear signal that accountability is an afterthought in the minds of this administration.

Shame on you, Governor Youngkin.

The Virginia Legislative Black Caucus Condemns the Governor’s Commutation of Former Officer Wesley Shifflett’s Sentence

Richmond, VA—On March 2, Governor Glenn Youngkin commuted a three-year prison sentence of former Fairfax County Police Sergeant Wesley Shifflett, allowing him to walk free after just two nights in jail. In 2023, Shifflett chased, shot, and killed 37-year-old father of three, Timothy McCree Johnson, outside Tysons Corner Center mall for the alleged crime of stealing sunglasses.

Following Shifflett’s conviction for the reckless handling of a firearm, Johnson’s mother acknowledged “that most Black and Brown families that find themselves in this situation do not get this far… Today’s verdict has provided Mr. Shifflett a second chance—a benefit that my son, Timothy McCree Johnson, was not afforded.”

Members of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus believe this pardon is reckless and a gross misuse of power that threatens public safety. We will not allow him to use the chaos his friends are causing in Washington as cover to evade consequences as he places a recently convicted, violent criminal back in our communities.