FAIRFAX, Va. — A jury on Friday acquitted a former police officer in Virginia of involuntary manslaughter after he fatally shot a shoplifting suspect outside a busy shopping mall. But the jury did convict the former police sergeant, Wesley Shifflett, of reckless handling of a firearm in connection with the shooting. After the shots were fired, Shifflett immediately yelled “stop reaching” and told other officers that he saw Johnson reaching in his waistband. During cross-examination, Sands asked Shifflett about shooting Johnson before commanding that the victim “stop reaching.”“My motor functions were operating more quickly than I could verbalize,” Shifflett said. The special grand jury returned indictments on charges including involuntary manslaughter and reckless handling of a firearm.

---

Persons: Wesley Shifflett, Shifflett, Timothy McCree Johnson, Johnson, ”, Jenna Sands, “, Sands, ” Shifflett, Johnson’s, I’m, Kevin Davis, Davis, ” Davis, ” Prosecutors, Steve Descano Organizations: Prosecutors, Fairfax County Police, Tysons, Police, ”, Shifflett Locations: FAIRFAX, Va, —, Virginia, ”, Fairfax, Fairfax County