GARDEN CITY (WWJ) -- A Garden City man who was charged in the fatal shooting of an off-duty Detroit Police sergeant won't spend any time in prison.
The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office worked out a plea deal with Eddie Johnson — who was arrested after the death Sergeant Elaine Williams Williams five years ago — agreeing to a sentence of probation.
Johnson told investigators, in June of 2019, that he shot Williams after she shot him first and they struggled over her department-issued handgun in the home they shared, in the 200 block of Belton in Garden City. Williams was shot four times in the head and once in the shoulder, and Johnson had a gunshot would to the stomach.
Toxicology reports showed both Johnson, 35 at the time, and Sgt. Williams, 34, were drunk at the time of the shooting.
Johnson was initially charged with first degree murder, but the prosecutor's office offered a no contest plea to manslaughter due to the circumstances and evidence.
In a statement, Prosecutor Kym Worthy explained that this was a difficult case, but she believes the plea agreement was the right call.
“I take all domestic violence cases very seriously. I also take my role as Prosecutor very seriously. The evidence was carefully considered by three veteran assistant prosecutors and myself. In this case, where both parties were shot with the same gun, the order of events is open to multiple interpretations," Worthy said. "Considering our burden of proof, we believe this is an appropriate resolution. The decision to offer this plea to this defendant was not what we wanted to do, but it was the just thing to do."
Johnson will spend three years on probation, but if there are any violations, he could be sentenced to 15 years behind bars.
Sgt. Williams, a mother of two, worked in the DPD's Major Crimes Unit.
James Craig, who was police chief at the time, said Williams "did a phenomenal job," and was loved by the community. He called her death "a tremendous loss."