New Orleans cop kills man wanted in Texas City

TEXAS CITY — A man fatally wounded in an exchange of gunfire with New Orleans police was wanted on a parole violation stemming from a 2006 homicide in Galveston County, authorities said Tuesday.

Donald Johnson, 21, was accused of fatally shooting three people Thursday in New Orleans. He crashed a getaway car and fired at officers, Remi A. Braden, a spokesman for New Orleans police, said.

Police learned Friday of Johnson’s identity and his warrant.

The original offense date listed on Johnson’s Galveston County parole warrant coincided with the May 20, 2006, slaying of Elton Francis, a Texas City teenager.

Police couldn’t comment on Johnson’s warrant because it involved an incident committed when he was a juvenile at the age of 15.

The parole warrant’s offense date of May 20, 2006, was the only homicide in the county related to that day.

Elton Francis Jr., 13, was shot twice in the head that Saturday near his Fountain Lake apartment at 9001 Glacier Ave. He died the next day.

Francis was riding his bicycle when he became involved in an argument and was shot in a grassy area at the rear of the complex. Police arrested a teenager, a Hurricane Katrina evacuee, in the killing.

Paroled On Murder Charge

The teen charged was living with his mother’s friends in the complex, but she lived in Houston, police said.

The suspect wasn’t tried as an adult, but he pleaded guilty to murder Sept. 25, 2006 in Galveston County Criminal Court of Law No. 2 and received a 25-year sentence. Before the hearing, the boy made a middle-finger gesture to the Texas City police detective who investigated the case.

Prosecutors declined to name the boy because he was a juvenile.

It is unclear when Johnson was paroled. A warrant was issued May 20, because he didn’t report to his parole officer, said Jason Clark, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

On Thursday, Johnson opened fire on a group of acquaintances on Devine Street, killing three people, Braden said.

Johnson jumped in a car with two accomplices and led officers on a brief chase, Braden said.

“Johnson crashed into a light post, got out of the car and opened fire on New Orleans police officers,” Braden said. “The officers returned fire, fatally wounding Johnson.”

Relatives identified Johnson on Friday, and police learned he was wanted in Galveston County on a murder parole violation from a 2006 killing. New Orleans police were unable to release more information on the Galveston County case because Johnson’s criminal record as a juvenile isn’t public record.

‘I Still Miss My Child’

Regina Francis, Elton’s mother, never knew the name of the boy who killed her son.

“It was about 3 p.m. and Elton said, ‘Mama, I’m going to ride my bike,’” Francis said. “Some kids said Elton’s been shot, and I said, ‘Stop playing with me.’”

Elton was a good child, who loved to play sports and make people laugh, Francis said.

“I still miss my child, still cry over him sometimes,” Francis said. “I know God is going to take care of me.”

As for Johnson’s fate, Francis paused to find the appropriate words.

“I’m dealing with it, trying to forgive him, but it’s not easy to forgive when your child is gone,” Francis said. “I can’t say it’s good for the boy who got shot. That might be wrong to say. He just got what he deserved.”