johnsonpreston

One recent case that cries out for full investigation and disclosure is the shooting death of Preston Johnson of Fitchburg by a member of the Massachusetts State Police. Once again, Mr. Conte is working to hide the information from the public. Another of his tactics is to call for an inquest. The report and transcript of testimony in the case only becomes public if the District Attorney files a written notice that no prosecution will take place. Mr. Conte has used this tactic before and if re-elected he surely will use it again.

June 22, 2006

Trooper shooting witness sought
Mystery car likely stopped before incident

FITCHBURG— A civilian driver who was at the scene when Trooper Donald C. Gray shot Preston D. Johnson on Nov. 3, 2005, likely has knowledge to share about the events of that day. He had apparently been stopped by the trooper just minutes before the fatal shooting and was allowed to leave, but no record of his name or vehicle registration has been found by investigators.

The driver of the car that was stopped has never been identified, and his drinking companion who testified about what he saw that night claims no knowledge of the man’s name or address. The passenger also said he wanted nothing to do with the case.

June 21, 2006

Inquest judge, grand jury disagree

WORCESTER—The judge who presided over an inquest into the fatal shooting of Preston D. Johnson by State Trooper Donald C. Gray found the trooper’s actions “wanton and reckless,” amounting to “criminal negligence” that would have supported a manslaughter charge, according to documents released yesterday in Worcester Superior Court.

A grand jury has found insufficient evidence, however, to indict the trooper in the Nov. 30 shooting of the 30-year-old Fitchburg man after a police chase.

District Attorney John J. Conte confirmed yesterday that a Worcester County grand jury returned a no bill Monday in the case of Trooper Gray, who shot Mr. Johnson after he allegedly rammed a cruiser and drove his SUV at a Fitchburg officer after a police pursuit.

March 31, 2006

Inquest report 'impounded'

FITCHBURG -- The judge overseeing an inquest into the shooting death of Fitchburg resident Preston Johnson has filed his final report in Worcester Superior Court, according to a letter he wrote to another attorney......

March 1, 2006

Tapes raise inquest doubt
Fitchburg judge reopens fatal police shooting case

CLINTON— Judge Robert V. Greco reopened the inquest into the shooting death of Preston D. Johnson yesterday, putting Fitchburg Police Officer Douglas Darton back on the witness stand in Clinton District Court, and listening to previously unaired Fitchburg police transmission tapes.

Before the session closed yesterday, the judge listened again to state police transmissions of the incident and asked to hear Fitchburg police transmissions for the first time.

“The tape was very interesting,” Mr. Hrones said. “(The content) is different than what (police) said before.”

February 11, 2006

Judge visits scene of police shooting

FITCHBURG -- An entourage composed of police officers, lawyers and a judge on Thursday briefly visited the scene where State Trooper Donald C. Gray shot Preston D. Johnson on Nov. 3.

The group apparently retraced the ground the officers and Johnson covered during the alleged pursuit that led to the shooting.

Hrones said the trooper should be charged, but he's not sure the judge will feel the same way.

"There's no justification for the shooting," Hrones said. "There should be a recommendation for criminal process. There are so many questions that should go before a grand jury.

February 10, 2006

Inquest ends into trooper shooting
Judge will submit findings to Conte

CLINTON— The inquest into the death of Preston D. Johnson, who was shot by a state police trooper, wrapped up yesterday, but a lawyer for Mr. Johnson’s family said the inquiry could be resumed if additional evidence comes to light.

Specifically, lawyer Stephen Hrones said investigators are trying to find the driver of a white or light-colored Toyota Camry that was seen near the area of the shooting in the early hours of Nov. 3.

“Everyone is trying to find that car,” he said.

February 6, 2006

Inquest set on shooting by trooper

CLINTON— An inquest is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. today in Clinton District Court into the death of Preston D. Johnson, who was shot by a state trooper after a pursuit in Fitchburg Nov. 3.

Judge Robert V. Greco of the Framingham District Court will preside over the hearing and then submit a written report to District Attorney John J. Conte.

Family members of Mr. Johnson are looking forward to the inquest so they can learn more about what happened during the incident, said lawyer Stephen Hrones of Boston, who was hired by the family.

January 20, 2006

Dead man’s family awaits inquest

Answers sought in police shooting

FITCHBURG— A lawyer for the family of Preston D. Johnson said members are hopeful the coming inquest into the Nov. 3 police shooting will answer their lingering questions about the case.

Lawyer Stephen Hrones of Boston said yesterday he had been hired by Mr. Johnson’s family to represent them in the case. He said investigators have interviewed witnesses to the police pursuit that preceded the shooting, but have yet to find anyone who witnessed the shooting itself.

November 29, 2005

Attorney John J. Conte
regarding the November 3, 2005 death of Preston D. Johnson

District Attorney John J. Conte announced today that he is requesting that the District Court Department conduct an inquest into the November 3, 2005 death of Preston D. Johnson of Fitchburg, MA.

According to District Attorney Conte, the police investigation reveals that the incident that culminated in Mr. Johnson's death began during the early morning hours of November 3, 2005, when a motor vehicle being operated by Mr. Johnson refused to stop for a Massachusetts State Police officer who had observed Mr. Johnson operating erratically and at a high rate of speed. During the officer's pursuit, Mr. Johnson's vehicle continued to operate erratically, hitting several other vehicles

November 4, 2005

TROOPER SHOOTING OF DRIVER PROBED

FITCHBURG A state trooper shot and critically injured a 30-year-old man early yesterday after an apparently routine traffic stop on a residential street turned violent, authorities said.

A lawyer for the State Police union said preliminary evidence indicated that the man drove a car at the trooper and a Fitchburg police officer and that the trooper fired in self-defense.

Preston D. Johnson of Fitchburg was on life support last night at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, with doctors awaiting the arrival of his mother from Mississippi before removing the equipment, family members said.

last updated 12-Mar-2007 08:42 AM

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