An Alabama judge on Wednesday sentenced a cop killer to death, and during victim impact statements the murderer heard words written by the police officer himself.
Tapero Carleone Johnson lured police to a hotel outside Birmingham where he ambushed Moody police Lt. Stephen Williams on June 2, 2020. Williams knocked on the door and Johnson, 31, fired more than 40 shots through the door, hitting and killing the police officer. Williams wrote letters and poems in his spare time and one was read during the victim impact statement portion of Johnson’s sentencing, according to AL.com.
Williams addressed the letter to anyone who may want to harm a police officer.
AL.com posted the text of the letter:
I felt obliged to write to you since I know what you are contemplating. You hate me. For whatever reason you hate me and want me dead. Perhaps I arrested you and sent you away for a while. Maybe your lifestyle just cannot coexist with the idea of law and order.”
Or is it you just have hate in your heart and feel emboldened by the recent swell of hatred in our country and think you be some kind of hero? I want you to know what your future holds should you decide to harm for any reason.
We are really only talking about two possible outcomes, death and life behind bars. The rest is just in the details. There is no escape. There is no freedom. There is no parade. You will not be a martyr for the cause.
They may think you are a hero in prison, but what they think doesn’t matter does it? You will still be either dead or in a cage. That doesn’t equal happily ever after.
Johnson called the Moody Police Department from a Super 8 motel room, saying four men were trying to break in, according to authorities. But video showed there were no men outside. He fired 43 shots from four different weapons, prosecutors said. The shooting happened days after the death of George Floyd, who was murdered by police in Minnesota, which led to massive protests and anger toward law enforcement. Johnson never gave his motive for shooting Williams.
A jury convicted Johnson of capital murder last month and voted 11-2 to sentence him to death. During sentencing, Johnson claimed the shooting was accidental and apologized, according to AL.com. Marquisha Tyson, who was in the hotel room with Johnson, faces trial in March.
Tapero Johnson, inset, received the death penalty for killing Moody, Alabama, police Lt. Stephen Williams in June 2020. Williams wrote about his possible death in a poem. (Johnson: St. Clair County Jail; Williams: Moody Police Department)
Williams, a father of three who worked for 23 years as a police officer, also wrote about his possible death in a poem that was read at his funeral.
Don’t cry for me for the life that I lost but smile for me for the life that I lived
Don’t cry for me because I’m gone but smile for me because I’m here.
Don’t cry for me because I was taken too young but smile for me because my life was full and my heart was full with love for each of you.
Don’t cry for me because I won’t see any more Sunday family dinner gatherings, but smile for me because now I have wings.
Don’t cry for me because you won’t see me anymore but smile for me because I am free of the pain and misery of this world.
Don’t cry for me thinking of the dreams we had that won’t come true or the plans we had that we won’t start or finish, but smile for the good times we had, the laughs that we shared and the love that I had for all of you.
Please don’t cry for me. I’ve lived and loved on principles such as truth, honor and courage.
Don’t cry for me because I made the sacrifice I might have to make, and I accepted that risk anyway.
Don’t cry for me. I was proud to be a part of something special and something amazing and I am confident I made a difference in the lives of those who needed me.
Don’t cry for me because I have the most incredible wife and the most incredible family. My brothers and sisters in blue, I love you all. Smile for me for I am in a new place and it is beautiful, where there is no hurting, and no crying and no suffering. I am welcome here and I finally get to rest.
You see I am no longer on watch but know that I am watching over you. And I’ll be smiling because I love you still.
Have a tip we should know? [email protected]
