Crimesider
Crimesider
January 12, 2011 3:26 PM

California Highway Patrol Officer Tomiekia Johnson Charged with Husband's Murder

By
Caroline Black
Topics
Daily Blotter

California Highway Patrol Officer Tomiekia Johnson Charged with Husband's Murder

Tomiekia Johnson and Marcus Lemons (Personal Photo)

LOS ANGELES (CBS) California Highway Patrol Officer Tomiekia Johnson was arrested and charged Tuesday with murdering her husband, who she claims she shot in self-defense in February 2009.

According to the district attorney's office, the 31-year-old Johnson was arrested by Los Angeles sheriff's deputies.

Initially, Johnson told investigators that she shot Marcus Lemons once in the upper body after an argument between  the two escalated to physical violence, reports KTLA.

However, prosecutors say she intentionally shot Lemons, the father of her two children, and then fled to her parents' house in Compton where she reported the incident, says The Los Angeles Times.

Johnson, who had been employed with the CHP since 2002 was off-duty at the time of the shooting.

The newspaper says Johnson was arrested at the desk job she's held since the killing.

Sheriff's homicide detectives doubted Johnson's story especially after family members and friends of Lemons, a 31-year-old barber, described him as a peaceful man, while Johnson had a history of drinking heavily, reports The Los Angeles Times.

The California Highway Patrol is cooperating fully with investigators and the district attorney's office as the prosecution goes forward.

KTLA reports that Johnson's bail has been set at $2 million.


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