AL Cop Killer Pleads Guilty to Avoid Death Penalty

Preston Johnson, 39, of Addison, avoided the death penalty by pleading guilty to intentional murder on Monday. Johnson was sentenced to 25 years in prison.

June 15, 2022

Preston Johnson pleaded guilty to murdering Kimberly, AL, police officer Nick O'Rear Monday. (Photo: Cullman County SO)

A man charged with capital murder in the killing of Kimberly, AL, Police Officer Nick O'Rear was sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to a lesser charge Monday.

Preston Johnson, 39, of Addison, avoided the death penalty by pleading guilty to intentional murder on Monday. Johnson was sentenced to 25 years in prison, WVTM reports.

In February 2020, police tried to stop a BMW driven by Johnson on Interstate 65 after they spotted it moving erratically. Testimony showed O'Rear was driving in front of the vehicle when he was struck in the head by a rifle shot fired from the car. O'Rear died at the hospital the morning after the shooting.

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