Thieves are rarely armed and don't want to hurt anyone, yeah right.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

The man charged with trying to kill a Knoxville police officer dropped him with the first shots and then stood over him to pull the trigger execution-style, court records revealed today.

Cleven J. "Cleveland" Johnson, 26, faces charges that include attempted first-degree murder in Tuesday's shooting of Knoxville Police Department Officer Norman Rickman.

Police said Johnson shot Rickman, a 19-year KPD veteran, when the officer showed up to investigate a silent burglar alarm at 6600 Rockbridge Lane in Northwest Knoxville near the city limits. Rickman walked to the back of the house and surprised Johnson and two others - James Willie Murry, 32, and Tony R. Dixon, 17 - as they climbed out a back window, authorities said.

The shooting marked the second time Rickman, 45, took a bullet in the line of duty. He survived a shooting in 2001.

Rickman remains in critical but stable condition after surgery at the University of Tennessee Medical Center.

Police rounded up all three suspects within 24 hours of the shooting. All remain in jail.

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/may/22/warrant-cop-shot-execution-style/


This officer's brother is a retired firefighter and friend. Another friend called me and told me about the shooting. It has been asserted here on many occasions that burglars are rarely armed and have the intent to harm anyone, I guess that's until they are discovered. Thoughts and prayers to Officer Rickman.


David