On March 13, 2016, 16-year-old Jose Cruz, a Hispanic male, was fatally shot by off-duty Farmers Branch police officer Ken Johnson in Addison, Texas. Johnson observed Cruz and his friend, Edgar Rodriguez, both 16-year-old Hispanic males, allegedly attempting to steal third-row seats from his SUV. In response, Johnson pursued the teenagers in his personal vehicle, a Chevy Tahoe, while they fled in a red Dodge Challenger driven by Cruz. The chase concluded when Johnson intentionally collided with the Challenger, causing it to spin out at the intersection of Spring Valley Road and Marsh Lane. Following the collision, Johnson approached the vehicle and discharged his firearm multiple times, resulting in Cruz's death and serious injuries to Rodriguez, who lost a finger and sustained a gunshot wound to the ear.
Subsequent investigations led to Johnson's arrest on charges of murder and aggravated assault. In December 2017, a Dallas County jury convicted the 37-year-old former officer on both counts. The following month, Johnson was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the murder of Jose Cruz and received a 10-year probationary sentence for the aggravated assault of Edgar Rodriguez. The sentences were ordered to run concurrently.
The case garnered significant public attention, highlighting issues related to police conduct and the use of deadly force, especially involving off-duty officers. The conviction and sentencing of Ken Johnson were viewed by some as a measure of accountability, while others debated the adequacy of the punishment in relation to the loss of the young Hispanic male's life.
