CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Kanawha County man accused of fatally shooting a Charleston police officer, Patrolman Cassie Johnson, will be charged with first-degree murder, according to Charleston Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin.
Also, “We are exploring all other avenues of additional charges for state and federal as well,” Mayor Goodwin said during an appearance on Friday’s MetroNews “Talkline.”
That suspect, Joshua Marcellus Phillips, 38, of Charleston, was still being treated for two gunshot wounds to torso on Friday at Charleston Area Medical Center General Hospital.
On Friday, Goodwin said a procession would leave CAMC General to transport Officer Johnson’s remains to the West Virginia Office of the Chief Medical Officer and then to Parker-Cunningham-Johnson Funeral Home.
Johnson died on Thursday afternoon, two days after being shot while responding to a parking complaint on Charleston’s Garrison Ave.
A funeral for Officer Johnson, 28, will be held at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center on Tuesday.
“There is nothing more important than making sure that her family’s wishes are first. It doesn’t matter what the city wants. It doesn’t matter what the state wants. It matters what Cassie’s family wants and that also includes her brothers and sisters in blue,” Goodwin said.
For those wanting to make a donation in memory of Officer Johnson, those with the City of Charleston and the Charleston Police Department said there were a couple of options.
The Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association was accepting direct donations for the Johnson family and the general CPD account through checks made out to CPAAA. Any checks could be mailed to CPAAA, P.O. Box 11016, Charleston, W.Va., 25339.
Specifics about uses for the donation can be included in the memo line.
Cash donations can be dropped off at the Charleston Police Department Records Division at the Court Street entrance.
Food donations were also being accepted there.
Sgt. Chris Burford was taking any questions about donations at 304-549-1209.
A GoFundMe account had also been established. As of Friday morning, more than $42,000 had been collected, surpassing a $20,000 goal.
.@AmySGoodwin joins @HoppyKercheval to discuss the passing of Charleston Police Officer Patrolman Cassie Johnson. WATCH: https://t.co/wkudfIRZCB pic.twitter.com/j0qCjzP66e
— MetroNews (@WVMetroNews) December 4, 2020