Former Virginia Governor Pardons Ex-Police Officer in Fatal Shooting

Youngkin absolves former Fairfax County sergeant convicted in 2023 killing of unarmed man

Jan. 27, 2026 at 4:39pm

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Days before leaving office, former Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin pardoned a former Fairfax County police sergeant who was convicted in 2024 for the fatal shooting of an unarmed man accused of shoplifting. The pardon comes amid a nationwide debate over use of force policies and legal protections for law enforcement.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between law enforcement accountability and the legal protections afforded to police officers, especially in incidents involving the use of deadly force. Youngkin's pardon of the former sergeant, despite his conviction, raises questions about the role of the executive branch in overriding judicial decisions.

The details

In February 2023, former Sgt. Wesley Shifflett chased Timothy McCree Johnson out of a mall parking deck and into a wooded area, where he fatally shot Johnson. Shifflett was convicted in 2024 of reckless firearm use, though he was acquitted of manslaughter. Youngkin later granted Shifflett clemency, throwing out his three-year prison sentence, and now has issued a full pardon, stating that Shifflett's 'deadly force was both lawful and consistent with the department's policy and training'.

  • On February 22, 2023, Sgt. Wesley Shifflett fatally shot Timothy McCree Johnson.
  • In 2024, Shifflett was convicted of reckless firearm use but acquitted of manslaughter.
  • In 2025, Youngkin granted Shifflett clemency, overturning his three-year prison sentence.
  • On January 15, 2026, just days before leaving office, Youngkin issued Shifflett an absolute pardon.

The players

Glenn Youngkin

The former Republican governor of Virginia who pardoned Sgt. Wesley Shifflett.

Wesley Shifflett

A former Fairfax County police sergeant who was convicted in 2024 for the fatal shooting of Timothy McCree Johnson, an unarmed man accused of shoplifting.

Timothy McCree Johnson

An unarmed man who was fatally shot by Sgt. Wesley Shifflett in 2023 after being accused of shoplifting.

Melissa Johnson

The mother of Timothy McCree Johnson, who criticized Youngkin's involvement in the case.

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What they’re saying

“Why now do we find it necessary to vacate or not consider the jury's verdict, and to think that this honorable and fair judge did not sentence within the guidelines that he was afforded to?”

— Melissa Johnson, Mother of Timothy McCree Johnson (Associated Press)

“The deadly force used by Sgt. Wesley Gonzalez Shifflett on February 22, 2023, was both lawful and consistent with the department's policy and training.”

— Glenn Youngkin, Former Governor of Virginia (Associated Press)

What’s next

The case remains a subject of ongoing debate and scrutiny, with questions surrounding the use of force by law enforcement and the role of the executive branch in overriding judicial decisions.

The takeaway

This pardon highlights the complex and often contentious relationship between law enforcement accountability and the legal protections afforded to police officers, especially in cases involving the use of deadly force. It underscores the need for continued dialogue and reform to ensure fair and equitable outcomes in such cases.