In a confrontation that turned deadly, Richard Preston Johnson, a 35-year-old male from McDonough, Georgia, was shot and killed by a Clayton County police officer on Sunday, October 1, 2023. The incident unfolded in Jonesboro when an officer on patrol near Kendrick Road observed Johnson making a hand gesture as if he were pointing a gun.
As the officer began to approach him, Johnson fled the scene on foot. A chase ensued, leading behind a nearby residence.
According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, which was called in to handle the case, it was at this point that Johnson brandished a handgun and aimed it at the pursuing officer. In response, the officer discharged their firearm, striking Johnson.
Emergency services transported Johnson to Southern Regional Hospital, but his injuries proved fatal, and he was pronounced dead. The officer involved in the shooting was not harmed during the encounter. In line with standard procedure for officer-involved shootings, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation has taken the lead on the investigation into the circumstances surrounding Richard Preston Johnson's death. Once their inquiry is complete, the findings will be turned over to the Clayton Judicial Circuit District Attorney's Office for a thorough review. The identity of the officer who fired the fatal shot has not been publicly released.
