On the early morning of June 26, 1978, Prince George's County Police Officer Albert Claggett, a 26-year-old male, was nearing the end of his shift. He and his partner, Officer James B. Swart, initiated a traffic stop in Bladensburg of a vehicle matching the description of one involved in a recent theft. The two occupants of the vehicle were arrested and transported to the Hyattsville district station for processing.
While in the booking area, as Officer Claggett was fingerprinting one of
the suspects, 15-year-old Terrance Johnson, a struggle ensued. Johnson managed to snatch Officer Claggett's service revolver from his holster and shot him once in the chest. The teenager then fired at his own brother, who was in a nearby holding cell, but missed. Hearing the commotion, Officer Swart and another officer rushed into the room. Johnson fired at the approaching officers, striking Officer Swart in the stomach. Both wounded officers were rushed to Prince George's Hospital Center, where Officer Claggett succumbed to his injuries.
Terrance Johnson was subsequently charged with both killings. In the ensuing legal proceedings, he was found guilty of manslaughter for the death of Officer Claggett and not guilty by reason of insanity for the death of Officer Swart. He received a sentence of 25 years in prison for the manslaughter conviction.
After serving a portion of his sentence, Johnson was paroled in 1995. His freedom was short-lived, however. In 1997, he and his brother were involved in a bank robbery in Aberdeen, Maryland. As law enforcement officers closed in to apprehend them, Terrance Johnson took his own life.
