The Dane County District Attorney has cleared two Madison Police officers of any criminal wrong-doing, after they shot and killed a knife-wielding suspect last month.
The May 2 shooting happened on Madison’s east side, after police were called to a building on reports that a man was stabbing a family in their apartment. Officers entered a unit in the building and were confronted by Londrell Johnson, who was holding a large knife. Officers ordered the man to put down the weapon, then opened fire when he advanced on them. Johnson was taken to an area hospital, where he died from his injuries.
Dane County DA Ismael Ozanne says “In this case, the officers were compelled to use deadly force when faced with an advancing suspect wielding a knife and not responding to commands,” as allowed under Wisconsin’s deadly force statutes.
Before he was shot, police say Johnson stabbed and killed a mother and her daughter who also lived in the apartment building. Another man was also treated for stab wounds, while a four-year-old child was found unharmed in a bedroom.