PHOENIX — The man who shot an Arizona Department of Public Safety trooper multiple times in 2023 was handed a 20-year prison sentence, Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell announced on Wednesday.
The shooting happened on May 30, 2023, after then-34-year-old Howard Johnson tried to flee from the scene of a crash in north Phoenix.
When the trooper in question chased after him and tried to arrest him, Johnson shot the trooper multiple times, leaving him severely injured. At the time of his arrest, Johnson had multiple prior felony convictions.
The trooper recovered after a stay in the hospital and Johnson pleaded guilty to an aggravated assault charge in May of 2024.
MCAO policy requires a prison term as part of all plea deals for felons found to be in possession of a firearm.
"This is a dangerous criminal who shouldn’t have had a gun on him, yet he did," Mitchell said. "Through this policy we ensure the public that there are severe consequences for those who unlawfully possess a weapon and pose a threat to our community."
>> Download the 12News app for the latest local breaking news straight to your phone.
UP TO SPEED
Catch up on the latest news and stories on the 12News YouTube channel. Subscribe today.
Watch 12News+ for free
You can now watch 12News content anytime, anywhere thanks to the 12News+ app!
The free 12News+ app from 12News lets users stream live events — including daily newscasts like "Today in AZ" and "12 News" and our daily lifestyle program, "Arizona Midday"—on Roku and Amazon Fire TV.
12News+ showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona.
Users can also watch on-demand videos of top stories, local politics, I-Team investigations, Arizona-specific features and vintage videos from the 12News archives.
Roku: Add the channel from the Roku store or by searching for "12 News KPNX."
Amazon Fire TV: Search for "12 News KPNX" to find the free 12News+ app to add to your account, or have the 12News+ app delivered directly to your Amazon Fire TV through Amazon.com or the Amazon app.