Post by Anja Nieser on Sept 25, 2006 0:30:50 GMT -5
Children of slain officer share thoughts----Suspect doesn't have much to
say during interview in the county jail
Juan Leonardo Quintero, accused of killing a police officer was calm and
polite Saturday when interviewed briefly by a Houston Chronicle reporter
but would not comment at all about the incident that has landed him in the
Harris County Jail.
Quintero, 32, who police said has confessed to shooting veteran Houston
police officer Rodney Johnson in the head on Thursday from the back of a
patrol car, gave answers to a reporter's questions that were short and
provided no information.
Asked about the officer's slaying, he immediately replied, "I can't say
anything."
Asked if he felt any remorse, Quintero paused, then said, "I really can't
talk without my lawyer, ma'am."
Asked whether his illegal immigration status was a factor in the shooting,
Quintero again apologized politely and said he couldn't comment. The
interview ended shortly after.
After Johnson stopped Quintero for speeding near Hobby Airport on
Thursday, Quintero was handcuffed and placed in the back of the patrol
car. Police said Quintero was able to get his cuffed hands in front of
himself, draw a concealed pistol and shoot Johnson four times in the head.
On Saturday, in interviews at Johnson's mother's house in Houston, 3 of
his 5 children talked about their loss.
"My daddy wouldn't want us to hate him (Quintero). That's the kind of man
he was," said 16-year-old Astin Johnson.
"My daddy's life was taken for no apparent reason," said Amber Johnson,
17.
Their daily wakeup call included "Big Daddy" playing classic Michael
Jackson music. Mowing the lawn on Saturday was an occasion for him to don
his cowboy hat.
"He loved being a father, and he loved being a police officer. From the
time we were little, he was always bringing us to the station. He took us
everywhere with him," said Amber.
Astin, whose 16th birthday was Wednesday, had a date with her father for
dinner at Pappadeaux's on Friday at 6:30 p.m.
"My sister and I were at school on Thursday when our mom came and told us
what had happened. She said, 'Your daddy got shot,' which didn't register,
and then, 'He got killed.' I think I kind of collapsed but really don't
remember. I just can't imagine anyone wanting to hurt him. Everybody loved
him. It still doesn't seem real," said Astin.
Astin, Amber and their brother Corrigan, 14, all attend Yates High School.
"He used to tell us, 'Don't even think of bringing home any C's because if
you do you'll be seeing me,' " Amber said.
His enthusiasm infused the family's daily life.
"Back when Survivor came out, he put up a tent in the backyard and gave us
an hour to get ready. He'd come out periodically and we'd have races to
win candy. It was so funny," said Astin.
She added, "He was the kind of dad that made things happen. If he was
doing something, it was going to be big."
Johnson, who was 6-foot-5, was often approached by people asking him which
football team he played for.
"He would try to tell them that he didn't play football. They wouldn't
believe him, so he would go ahead and sign an autograph for them," Astin
said. "He thought it was funny."
"His whole life he was about becoming an officer. People were always
trying to get him to play football because he was so big, but he never
wanted to," said Johnson's sister, Susan Johnson, 34.
"After my father died in 1999," she said, "Rodney took over the
responsibility for being the man of the family. That's the kind of guy he
was. But he never missed an opportunity to mess with his younger brother
David. Every time they saw each other they would say, 'Let me see your
guns' and compare bicep size."
His sense of humor always came out at family gatherings.
"He was just plain funny," Amber said. "I know that people say that all of
the time, but he was. Every time he could get the family together he did -
all of my brothers and sisters, cousins, you name it. The more the
merrier."
(source: Houston Chronicle)
say during interview in the county jail
Juan Leonardo Quintero, accused of killing a police officer was calm and
polite Saturday when interviewed briefly by a Houston Chronicle reporter
but would not comment at all about the incident that has landed him in the
Harris County Jail.
Quintero, 32, who police said has confessed to shooting veteran Houston
police officer Rodney Johnson in the head on Thursday from the back of a
patrol car, gave answers to a reporter's questions that were short and
provided no information.
Asked about the officer's slaying, he immediately replied, "I can't say
anything."
Asked if he felt any remorse, Quintero paused, then said, "I really can't
talk without my lawyer, ma'am."
Asked whether his illegal immigration status was a factor in the shooting,
Quintero again apologized politely and said he couldn't comment. The
interview ended shortly after.
After Johnson stopped Quintero for speeding near Hobby Airport on
Thursday, Quintero was handcuffed and placed in the back of the patrol
car. Police said Quintero was able to get his cuffed hands in front of
himself, draw a concealed pistol and shoot Johnson four times in the head.
On Saturday, in interviews at Johnson's mother's house in Houston, 3 of
his 5 children talked about their loss.
"My daddy wouldn't want us to hate him (Quintero). That's the kind of man
he was," said 16-year-old Astin Johnson.
"My daddy's life was taken for no apparent reason," said Amber Johnson,
17.
Their daily wakeup call included "Big Daddy" playing classic Michael
Jackson music. Mowing the lawn on Saturday was an occasion for him to don
his cowboy hat.
"He loved being a father, and he loved being a police officer. From the
time we were little, he was always bringing us to the station. He took us
everywhere with him," said Amber.
Astin, whose 16th birthday was Wednesday, had a date with her father for
dinner at Pappadeaux's on Friday at 6:30 p.m.
"My sister and I were at school on Thursday when our mom came and told us
what had happened. She said, 'Your daddy got shot,' which didn't register,
and then, 'He got killed.' I think I kind of collapsed but really don't
remember. I just can't imagine anyone wanting to hurt him. Everybody loved
him. It still doesn't seem real," said Astin.
Astin, Amber and their brother Corrigan, 14, all attend Yates High School.
"He used to tell us, 'Don't even think of bringing home any C's because if
you do you'll be seeing me,' " Amber said.
His enthusiasm infused the family's daily life.
"Back when Survivor came out, he put up a tent in the backyard and gave us
an hour to get ready. He'd come out periodically and we'd have races to
win candy. It was so funny," said Astin.
She added, "He was the kind of dad that made things happen. If he was
doing something, it was going to be big."
Johnson, who was 6-foot-5, was often approached by people asking him which
football team he played for.
"He would try to tell them that he didn't play football. They wouldn't
believe him, so he would go ahead and sign an autograph for them," Astin
said. "He thought it was funny."
"His whole life he was about becoming an officer. People were always
trying to get him to play football because he was so big, but he never
wanted to," said Johnson's sister, Susan Johnson, 34.
"After my father died in 1999," she said, "Rodney took over the
responsibility for being the man of the family. That's the kind of guy he
was. But he never missed an opportunity to mess with his younger brother
David. Every time they saw each other they would say, 'Let me see your
guns' and compare bicep size."
His sense of humor always came out at family gatherings.
"He was just plain funny," Amber said. "I know that people say that all of
the time, but he was. Every time he could get the family together he did -
all of my brothers and sisters, cousins, you name it. The more the
merrier."
(source: Houston Chronicle)