Woman Sentenced to Life in Prison for 2008 Killing of Chicago Police Officer

NBCchicago.com

Wednesday, Feb 5, 2014

A woman found guilty of killing a Chicago police officer in 2008 has been sentenced to life in prison.

A Cook County judge sentenced Robin Johnson Wednesday to natural life in prison without parole for the shooting death of Officer Richard Francis.

Francis, a 27-year veteran of the force, was responding to a call of a disturbance at the Belmont and Western bus stop and confronted Johnson, who had been involved in a fracas with another woman on a CTA bus.

Johnson grabbed the officer's gun and shot him in the face.

Johnson was convicted last October of first-degree murder, disarming a police officer and aggravated discharge of a firearm.

Francis’ wife, Deborah, said Wednesday that her family is still distraught from the murder, and the guilty verdict offered them little closure.

“Our family was completely torn apart by his murder,” she said in a statement.

Attorneys for Johnson asked for a minimum sentence Wednesday, arguing that she had been suffering from seizures that caused her to become combative during that time and that she did not remember what happened.

But Judge Thomas Gainer instead handed down a maximum sentence of life in prison.

"Robin Johnson, you earned that sentence," he said.

"The most difficult days in my 33 years as a police officer have been when a colleague who devoted their life to protecting public safety is killed in the line of duty," said Chicago Police Supt. Garry McCarthy. "It is a measure of comfort, even if bittersweet, to bring to justice the woman who murdered Officer Richard Francis. On behalf of the entire Chicago Police Department, I want to thank all those involved in bringing this offender to justice."

Woman sentenced to life in murder of Chicago officer

ABClocal.go.com

Wednesday, February 05, 2014

(CHICAGO) (WLS) -- A Chicago woman who shot and killed a veteran Chicago police officer during an altercation at a North Side CTA bus stop has been sentenced to natural life in prison plus an additional 15 years, the Cook County State's Attorney's Office said.

Robin Johnson, 50, was sentenced to prison Wednesday for the first-degree murder of Officer Richard Francis, who was shot by Johnson after he responded to a call of a dispute on a CTA bus allegedly instigated by Johnson less than one block from the Belmont District Chicago Police Station at Belmont and Western avenues.

According to prosecutors, during the early morning hours of July 2, 2008, a witness was attempting to exit a CTA bus near 2401 W. Belmont when Johnson began harassing her.

Officer Francis, 60, who was on duty and passing by the location, was flagged down by the bus driver to intervene. Officer Francis approached Johnson and attempted to calm her down but she became combative, according to prosecutors. Johnson attacked the officer and they both fell to the ground, at which point Johnson grabbed the officer's weapon. As Officer Francis stood up and put his hands in the air Johnson allegedly shot him in the head at point-blank range.

Francis was a 27-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department.

Cook County Judge Thomas Gainer sentenced Johnson to the prison term of life for the murder of Officer Francis, and an additional 15 years for aggravated discharge of a firearm. Those sentences are to be served consecutively.

There was never any question that Robin Johnson fired the shots that killed Officer Francis, her attorneys admitted that in court. However, they said she never intended to kill him. Jurors disagreed.

Deborah Francis last saw her husband alive before he started his shift the day he died.

"It's really hard for us to speculate what the jury was thinking. They had a week and a half of evidence, and they did ultimately find guilty on the most serious count, the first-degree murder as to Officer Francis," said Charise Valente, Asst. Cook County State's Attorney.

Johnson sat expressionless during closing arguments in her trial. Prosecutors said Francis was unprepared for what he encountered. Johnson also exchanged gunfire with other officers who responded moments after Francis' shooting.

Jurors acquitted Johnson of attempted murder charges of those officers. Defense attorneys described Johnson as distressed and confused. She reportedly has a history of mental illness.

"That was not presented as a defense. There was basically a choice for the jury of guilty or not guilty," said Valente.

Among those listening to the closing arguments in the packed courtroom were Francis' family, several members of Johnson's family and dozens of police officers.

Robin Johnson found guilty in trial of Richard Francis' killing

By Karen Jordan and John Garcia - ABClocal.go.com

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

(CHICAGO) (WLS) -- Robin Johnson was found guilty of first-degree murder in the trial of Chicago Police Officer Richard Francis' killing on Wednesday night.

There was never any question that Robin Johnson fired the shots that killed Officer Francis, her attorneys admitted that in court. However, they said she never intended to kill him. Jurors disagreed.

Deborah Francis last saw her husband alive before he started his shift on July 2, 2008. She left court Wednesday night knowing a jury has convicted the woman who shot him to death at a Lakeview CTA bus stop that night.

"It's really hard for us to speculate what the jury was thinking. They had a week and a half of evidence, and they did ultimately find guilty on the most serious count, the first-degree murder as to Officer Francis," said Charise Valente, Asst. Cook County State's Attorney.

Jurors found Johnson, 50, guilty on three counts related to the murder of the 27-year veteran officer.

Johnson sat expressionless during closing arguments in her trial. Prosecutors said Francis responded to a call of a disturbance on a CTA bus near Belmont and Western, but they say he was unprepared for what he encountered.

Johnson shot him in the face with his own service revolver. Then she exchanged gunfire with other officers who responded moments later.

Jurors acquitted her of attempted murder charges of those officers. Defense attorneys described Johnson as distressed and confused. She reportedly has a history of mental illness.

"That was not presented as a defense. There was basically a choice for the jury of guilty or not guilty," said Valente.

Among those listening to the closing arguments in the packed courtroom were Francis' family, several members of Johnson's family and dozens of police officers.

Johnson faces a sentence of natural life in prison without the opportunity for parole. She showed no emotion as the verdicts were read in court Wednesday night.

Chicago police officer shot in confrontation with woman

ABClocal.go.com

Wednesday, July 02, 2008

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A veteran Chicago police officer was shot and killed early Wednesday morning outside a police station on the city's Northwest Side.

The officer was shot during a confrontation with a woman who was able to take the officer's gun away. It happened around 2 a.m.

The officer has been identified as Richard Francis. He was 60 years old and had been with the Chicago Police Department since 1981. The shooting happened in the intersection of Belmont and Western, only steps away from the district headquarters where he served.

Officer Francis was on routine patrol early Wednesday morning when he was called to the scene of a disturbance at a CTA bus stop under an overpass. Police say a homeless woman was apparently causing problems on a CTA bus, right across the street from District 19 headquarters.

Police say Francis approached the woman, who then started attacking him. During the fight, the woman managed to grab the officer's gun. She fired the weapon three times, and Francis was struck in the head.

"One of our 19th District officers was on routine patrol. He observed a disturbance involving a female. He approached that situation. A struggle ensued. The offender was able to secure the officer's weapon, fatally wounded him. Other officers responded to the scene. The offender threatened them. They engaged that offender. They wounded her," said Supt. Jody Weis, Chicago Police Dept.

Police say the woman, armed with the officer's gun, began threatening other officers who responded just before and after Francis was shot. About four officers shot her several times.

Both Officer Francis and the woman were rushed to Illinois Masonic Medical Center where fellow officers waited on word of his condition. He was pronounced dead just before 3 a.m.

Police said the woman allegedly responsible for the shooting is a 300-pound, homeless woman in her 40s. She is still in the hospital in stable condition. Authorities say they have yet to contact her family.

Police officials would not comment on a report that the suspect is mentally disturbed and that officers frequently had been called to remove her from CTA buses.

Charges were expected to be filed against the woman sometime Thursday.

The killing, a block away from 19th District headquarters, stunned officers there and around the city.

"It gives credence to the idea that nothing is routine patrol and nothing is a routine call no matter the situation. Nothing is routine," said Mark Donahue, Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge #7.

"Our focus right now is on his family. It's a tragic loss to the family. It's a terrible loss for the Chicago Police Department. Our hearts and condolences and prayers are with the family and friends and members of this department," Weis said. "It's a stark reminder of the dangers police officers face every day."

The Life of Richard Francis

Francis worked the midnight shift, driving a police transport wagon. Normally he worked with a partner, but Wednesday he was working alone out of a squad car instead. He lived in Chicago's Jefferson Park neighborhood with his wife. He also leaves behind two grown stepdaughters. He was just three years from retiring with full benefits.

"He'd come home from work and if I was driving to work, he'd always say hi. The nicest person you could meet in your life. I don't understand why it happened," said neighbor Barbara Rehn in tears.

At 19th District headquarters, 11-year-old Jacob Doyle brought flowers.

"My stepbrother is a cop and he used to work with him," Jacob said.

Officer Francis was the kind of guy who was the backbone of the Chicago Police Department, say fellow officers who are remembering him. They say he was not a complainer, he did a good job and went home to his family.

And at his home in Jefferson Park, person after person said he was about the nicest guy they had ever met.

Fellow officers in mourning arrived with gift baskets and food, flowers and love for Officer Francis' family at his Northwest Side home throughout the day Wednesday.

Still sitting on the street out front was his beloved motorcycle.

"Always a great guy. Always got along with everybody and he loved his motorcycle," said Ron Schmidt, former neighbor.

Officer Francis also loved his dogs - two Basset hounds he rescued.

And he was most devoted to his family. Rehn says he raised his stepdaughters like they were his own.

"They were his daughters, never did he say stepdaughters. They were his daughters," Rehn said.

"He was always feeding the birds and then they would come to my yard, always walking two Basset hounds, walk with his daughter. They walk around the block, my dogs would go crazy." Delores Schmoldt.

His friend of more than 50 years, Kevin O'Connor, went to grade school with Francis at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish.

"Ricky was a gregarious, outgoing, always there, laughter, full of fun, we played a lot of practical jokes on each other," he said.

O'Connor stood outside the Grace and Leavitt Fire Escape, a watering hole for police and firefighters, where they were trying to comfort each other.

Later, back outside Officer Francis' home, Weis paid his respects to the family. And the Hundred Club of Cook County presented his widow a check for $50,000.

"Obviously, they're still in shock. what happens in this world, why did it happen to us, which is normal for every family," said Ralph Scheu, Hundred Club president.

This is the 235th family of a fallen Chicago police officer that the Hundred Club has given its help to.

As a senior officer, Richard Francis could have worked any shift he wanted but preferred the night shift.

Friends say he wasn't one to seek the spotlight, but he did earn 25 honorable mentions during his police career, as well as a department commendation and several complimentary letters about his service.

A flag of mourning was flown at half staff outside police headquarters for Officer Francis. At daybreak, the dead officer's co-workers raised the mourning flag and later hung a purple and black bunting.

While officers at the 19th District and around the city grieved, some already were whispering a question: Why was Officer Francis working alone at 2 o'clock in the morning? So far, police brass have not been available to answer that question.

Officer Francis is the first Chicago police officer killed in the line of duty in more than two years.

The last Chicago police officer to die in the line of duty was Officer Eric Solorio, 26, in 2006. Solorio and his partner were chasing a speeding vehicle when their squad car spun out of control and crashed on Chicago's South Side. Solorio later died from injuries he suffered in the crash.

In March of 2002, Officer Donald Marquez was shot and killed as he attempted to serve court papers at an apartment in the city's Logan Square neighborhood. The gunman was shot and killed. Marquez was a 20-year veteran of the police force.

  

The victim

Officer Richard Francis with his dog in a photo provided by Chicago police.