A Farmers Branch police officer who was off-duty when he says he shot and killed a teenage burglary suspect and wounded another boy earlier this month has resigned from the department.
Farmers Branch Police Chief Sid Fuller has confirmed Thursday he received Ken Johnson's resignation, effective immediately.
Johnson faxed in his resignation to Chief of Police Sid Fuller Thursday saying:
"Please accept this as notice of my resignation from the Police Department for the City of Farmers Branch.
It has truly been a pleasure to work for such a fine department. The staff, officers, and administrators of the department are among the finest. I have taken great pleasure in working alongside these individuals.
Sincerely, Ken Johnson
Johnson said he saw a vehicle in his apartment complex being burglarized March 13 and he intervened. He said he got into his personal vehicle and chased the pair to the 14300 block of Marsh Lane where they crashed. An altercation followed and shots were fired.
Jose Raul Cruz, 16, was killed at the scene; the second person was transported to Parkland Memorial Hospital with injuries that were not life threatening. While police have not identified the second teen shot, his family has identified him as 16-year-old Edgar Rodriguez, a friend of Cruz.
Johnson is currently free on $300,000 bond after being arrested and charged by the Addison Police Department with murder and aggravated assault in the shootings.
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Meanwhile, Fuller said the department's Internal Affairs department continues to hold their own investigation.
“Notwithstanding Officer Johnson’s resignation we will continue our thorough review of the information collected and work to conclude the investigation; however, no official employment action will be taken in light of today’s resignation,” Fuller said in a statement Thursday.
The Addison Police Department's investigation into the shooting is separate from the Farmers Branch internal affairs investigation.
