In the pre-dawn hours of June 5, 1991, a routine patrol turned fatal for 28-year-old Caucasian male, Connecticut State Trooper Russell Bagshaw. While making his rounds in Windham, he drove his cruiser up to a local sporting goods store around 3:00 a.m. Unbeknownst to him, a burglary was in progress. Two brothers were actively stealing firearms from the establishment, passing them out a window to a waiting vehicle.
As Trooper Bagshaw's patrol car approached the business, he was ambushed before he could even exit his vehicle or radio for assistance. One of the brothers lay in wait and opened fire with a 9mm semi-automatic handgun, striking Bagshaw in the chest.
A short time later, a passing firefighter noticed the trooper's cruiser with its emergency lights still flashing. Upon investigating, he found Trooper Bagshaw slumped over the wheel of his still-running vehicle. Using the trooper's radio, the firefighter called for help, announcing "Officer down!" The subsequent investigation quickly led to the identification and arrest of two brothers, Terry and Duane Johnson, within days of the shooting.
The investigation revealed that Terry Johnson was the one who fired the fatal shots. He ultimately pleaded guilty to murder and was initially sentenced to death. This sentence was later commuted to life in prison without the possibility of parole. His younger brother, Duane Johnson, was convicted for his role in the felony murder and received a lengthy prison sentence. Over the years, there have been legal proceedings related to their sentences, including a parole hearing for Duane Johnson in early 2025, which was denied.
