On Sunday March 13, 2016 Jose Cruz, 16, was fatally shot and his companion, Edgar Rodriguez, gravely injured by Ken Johnson an off-duty Farmers Branch Police Officer. 

The tragic incident began when, according to Johnson's initial statement, the two teenagers were attempting to break into a car at Johnson’s apartment complex in the 14800 block of Marsh Lane in Farmers Branch when the officer confronted them.

The teens fled, Johnson pursued them in his personal vehicle. The teens’ car spun out about a half-mile away, near a Shell gas station at Marsh Lane and Spring Valley Road in Addison.

In surveillance footage obtained by WFAA-TV (Channel 8), Johnson’s SUV appears to hit the back of Cruz’s vehicle, causing it to spin out of control in the intersection.

Addison police Chief Paul Spencer said an altercation led Johnson to fatally shoot Cruz and wound his passenger, Edgar Rodriguez. That altercation is not captured on the surveillance video. Cruz died at the scene. Rodriguez was shot in the head but is expected to survive.

Farmers Branch police Chief Sid Fuller emphasized that off-duty Farmers Branch officers are not allowed to chase suspects in their personal vehicles. He added that department policy doesn’t let officers ram other vehicles. 

Could this tragic loss for the Cruz family been avoided? Absolutely. Had Ken Johnson followed the Farmers Branch PD policy and report the incident to the Addison PD Jose Cruz would be alive today. 

The solution is fairly simple. Pass a State bill banning off-duty police officers from chasing suspects in private vehicles.

Sign the petition and don't let another teenager die.