Wortham
BENTON — A Springhill man pleaded guilty this week to Attempted First Degree Murder for his role in an officer-involved shooting in April.
During a late-night traffic stop outside the main gate of Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City, Mailk Wortham, 20, pointed a .25 caliber semi-automatic pistol out of the passenger window just inches from the face of Bossier City Police Sgt. Kenneth Johnson.
The incident was captured on Johnson’s dash cam and was played for a 12-person jury during Sgt. Johnson’s testimony.
Johnson recalled hearing the gun “click” as Wortham pulled the trigger twice in rapid succession. The officer immediately drew his weapon and returned fire three times striking Wortham in the head and wounding him.
Wortham’s gun, which was fully loaded, failed to fire both times.
Following the officer’s testimony, Wortham agreed to an offer from the prosecutor to plead guilty to the charge of attempted first-degree murder for an agreed 25-year prison sentence.
Assistant District Attorney Santi Parks prosecuted the case with assistance from Richard Ray. “This incident is a sobering reminder that police officers put their lives on the line every day to keep us all safe” Parks said. “We appreciate how difficult and dangerous their job can be and are glad that Sgt. Johnson was not killed that night.”
Twenty-Sixth Judical District Attorney Schuyler Marvin was please with the outcome of the case.
“Anyone who is willing to point a gun at a police officer and pull the trigger needs to be put away for a long time,” he said. “I am pleased with this resolution and am proud of how quickly and aggressively our office brought this matter to a conclusion.”
Randal Fish and Kerry Hill represented Wortham and Judge Jeff Thompson presided over the case.