Ex-Farmers Branch officer found guilty of murder, aggravated assault

A former Farmers Branch police officer was found guilty of murder and aggravated assault on Tuesday.

Ken Johnson was on trial in Dallas County for killing 16-year-old Jose Cruz in March 2016. It took jurors less than three hours to convict him of Cruz’s murder aggravated assault for also shooting and injuring his friend.

The former officer showed no emotion as the verdict was read. But Cruz’s family was overcome with emotion.

Johnson had nothing to say to reporters when he entered the Dallas County courtroom Tuesday morning. After six days of testimony from more than 20 different witnesses, it took the jury of six men and six women just three hours to reach a unanimous verdict of guilty on both felony charges.

Johnson says he caught Cruz and Edward Rodriguez stealing the third seat from his SUV. Prosecutors say he followed them, bumping their car and then fired 16 shots into the car, killing Cruz and injuring his friend.

Supporters of Johnson hurried out of the courtroom after the verdict. Cruz's family followed. The murdered teen's grandmother was inconsolable.

“He took my grandson’s wife!” she said in tears as she walked out.

Neither side spoke after the verdict due to the fact that the sentencing phase has not happened yet. Johnson will spend the holiday season in jail awaiting sentencing, which will not take place until Jan. 8, 2018.