U.S. Supreme Court upholds death penalty for killer of game commission officer
The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld the death penalty for the convicted killer of a Pennsylvania Game Commission Officer.
On Monday, the Supreme Court denied Christopher Johnson's petition to vacate his death sentence, which he was given after he was convicted of shooting and killing game commission officer David Grove on the evening of Nov. 11, 2010.
Grove, who was 31, was investigating a deer-poaching incident when he encountered Johnson near the Gettysburg National Military Park. Johnson fired 15 shots at Grove, and a bullet entered the back of his neck and killed him, said Adams County District Attorney Shawn Wagner.
Johnson was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death on Oct. 4, 2012. The state Supreme Court upheld Johnson's death sentence last year. And Wagner applauded the U.S. Supreme Court for following suit.
"I am confident that justice has been properly handed down to officer Grove's killer," Wagner said. "Pennsylvania law calls for the ultimate consequence when someone intentionally kills a law enforcement officer acting in the line of duty."
The U.S. Supreme Court's denial of Johnson's petition ends his direct appeal of his first degree murder conviction and death sentence, Wagner said.
If Johnson were to pursue another appeal, he would have to file a Post Conviction Relief Act petition with the Adams County Court of Common Pleas, he said.
http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/ind...lds_death.html
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