Robin Johnson

Background

Robin Johnson was a 300-pound homeless woman in her 40s who was involved in a disturbance and altercation on a CTA bus.

Officer Richard Francis was a 27-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department. He was 60 years old and had been with the Chicago Police Department since 1981. He lived in Chicago's Jefferson Park neighborhood with his wife and left behind two grown stepdaughters. Officer Francis worked the midnight shift and was just three years from retiring with full benefits. He was working alone out of a squad car at the time of the shooting.

The offence

On July 2, 2008, Officer Richard Francis responded to a call of a disturbance at a CTA bus stop near Belmont and Western at the intersection of Belmont and Western, only steps away from district headquarters where he served.

A witness was attempting to exit a CTA bus near 2401 W. Belmont when Robin Johnson began harassing her. Officer Francis, 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. During the fight, Johnson and Officer Francis both fell to the ground. Johnson grabbed the officer's weapon. As Officer Francis stood up and put his hands in the air, Johnson shot him in the head at point-blank range using his own service revolver. Officer Francis was fatally wounded.

After the shooting, Johnson exchanged gunfire with other officers who responded moments after Francis’ shooting, and jurors acquitted Johnson of attempted murder charges related to those officers.

Investigation

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

Officer Francis and Johnson were rushed to Illinois Masonic Medical Center. Fellow officers waited on word of his condition. Officer Francis was pronounced dead just before 3 a.m.

Authorities said they had yet to contact Johnson's family. Police officials would not comment on a report that the suspect was mentally disturbed, and authorities said officers frequently had been called to remove her from CTA buses.

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

Arrest

The provided material did not specify an arrest date.

Trial

Robin Johnson was found guilty of first-degree murder in the trial of Chicago Police Officer Richard Francis' killing.

Jurors agreed there was never any question that Robin Johnson fired the shots that killed Officer Richard Francis, and her attorneys admitted this in court. Her attorneys argued that she never intended to kill him, but jurors disagreed.

Jurors found Johnson, 50, guilty on three counts related to the murder of the 27-year veteran officer. She sat expressionless during closing arguments in her trial.

Prosecutors said Officer Francis responded to a call of a disturbance on a CTA bus near Belmont and Western, and that he was unprepared for what he encountered. Prosecutors said Johnson shot him in the face with his own service revolver. Jurors acquitted Johnson of attempted murder charges of those officers.

Defense attorneys described Johnson as distressed and confused, and she reportedly had a history of mental illness. Charise Valente, Asst. Cook County State's Attorney, said: "That was not presented as a defense. There was basically a choice for the jury of guilty or not guilty," and: "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,"

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.

Sentencing

On February 5, 2014, Cook County Judge Thomas Gainer sentenced Robin Johnson to natural life in prison without parole for the shooting death of Officer Richard Francis. Judge Thomas Gainer also sentenced her to an additional 15 years for aggravated discharge of a firearm.

Those sentences were to be served consecutively.

Attorneys for Johnson asked for a minimum sentence, 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. Judge Thomas Gainer handed down a maximum sentence of life in prison and said: "Robin Johnson, you earned that sentence," and: "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,".

Chicago Police Supt. Garry McCarthy said: "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."

Robin Johnson sat expressionless during closing arguments in her trial, and the provided material did not state her courtroom demeanor at sentencing.

Appeals

The provided material did not specify any appeals.

Outcome

Officer Richard Francis was shot and killed on July 2, 2008.

Robin Johnson was found guilty of first-degree murder and was sentenced to natural life in prison without parole plus an additional 15 years for aggravated discharge of a firearm, served consecutively.

Aftermath

Deborah Francis said the family remained distraught and that the guilty verdict offered them little closure. She said: "Our family was completely torn apart by his murder,".

In the hours following the killing, Chicago officers and community members brought tributes. At 19th District headquarters, 11-year-old Jacob Doyle brought flowers. Fellow officers described Officer Francis as not a complainer, as going home to his family, and as the backbone of the Chicago Police Department.

Neighbor Barbara Rehn said: "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,". Ron Schmidt said: "Always a great guy. Always got along with everybody and he loved his motorcycle,".

Officer Francis loved his dogs, described as two Basset hounds he rescued. Rehn said: "They were his daughters, never did he say stepdaughters. They were his daughters," and: "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 was named in the provided material.

Kevin O'Connor, a friend of more than 50 years, said: "Ricky was a gregarious, outgoing, always there, laughter, full of fun, we played a lot of practical jokes on each other,".

The Hundred Club of Cook County presented Officer Francis’ widow a check for $50,000. Ralph Scheu said: "Obviously, they're still in shock. what happens in this world, why did it happen to us, which is normal for every family," and: "This is the 235th family of a fallen Chicago police officer that the Hundred Club has given its help to."

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.

Some officers questioned why Officer Francis was working alone at 2 o'clock in the morning; police brass were not available to answer that question in the provided material.

Officer Francis was described as 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 before him was Officer Eric Solorio, 26, in 2006, whose death was described as occurring after their squad car spun out of control and crashed on Chicago's South Side while chasing a speeding vehicle. In March of 2002, Officer Donald Marquez was shot and killed as he attempted to serve court papers at an apartment in Logan Square; the gunman was shot and killed. The material described Officer Marquez as a 20-year veteran of the police force.