TARRANT COUNTY, Texas — After the death of 31-year-old Anthony Johnson in Tarrant County Jail custody was ruled a homicide Friday, his family’s attorney said Tuesday he’s confident that charges will be filed against at least two people in the case.
Johnson, a former Marine, died April 21 in the Tarrant County Jail after a struggle with jailers outside his cell. Examiners ruled that Johnson died from mechanical and chemical asphyxia, meaning he could not get enough oxygen because his airways were restricted by a chemical and a physical force or object.
Video of the incident showed Officer Rafael Moreno kneeling on Johnson's back for 90 seconds. Deputies also used pepper spray during the incident, Tarrant County Sheriff Bill Waybourn confirmed in May. The medical examiner's report did not name the chemical affecting Johnson's breathing.
Johnson’s mother, Jacqualyne, addressed the jailers during the Tuesday press conference.
“You killed my son. What you did is a pattern and practice. You cannot tell me that that wasn’t going on before,” Jacqualyne said.
Johnson’s sister Janell also expressed concerns about a lack of mental healthcare in the Tarrant County Jail.
“If that’s not the case, come out here and prove it,” Janell said.
Johnson’s 10-year-old nephew Corbin also spoke during the press conference.
“Why did they have to kill him?” Corbin asked. "Anthony shouldn't have been killed at all."
Tarrant County Sheriff Bill Waybourn fired but then reinstated Moreno and his supervisor, Lt. Joe Garcia. He said Garcia should've stopped Moreno from kneeling on Johnson's back. Both were placed on paid administrative leave after their reinstatement.
Pastor Michael Bell of the Unity in the Community Coalition called on Waybourn to resign and for the prosecution of the jailers involved in Johnson’s death.
“He needs to resign immediately for the good of all Tarrant County citizens,” Bell said of Waybourn.
Johnson’s family also echoed calls from Tarrant County Commissioner Alisa Simmons and Congressman Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth, for the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate “the distressing pattern of inmate deaths and jail incidents at the Tarrant County Jail.”
“I urge the Department of Justice to launch a thorough investigation into the escalating number of unnatural deaths transpiring in this facility, which surpass the national average for jails with similar inmate populations,” Veasey wrote. “From physical altercations to drug overdoses and even an unattended death, the loss of life within correctional facilities is intolerable and warrants immediate investigation and action.”
In a statement over the weekend, Garcia’s attorney, Randy Moore, defended his client’s actions.
“Garcia followed stated policy and practice in his limited involvement in this matter. He is saddened by the outcome as well as the public persecution he has received prior to a complete investigation being conducted and release of the full video along with policies and training actually practiced at Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office,” Moore said.
Johnson’s family also continued calls Tuesday for the release of the full video of what happened to Johnson.
"Maybe we all have to have a sit-down and look back on that video because, Mr. Garcia, how can you have seen that," Janell Johnson said.
Johnson is the sixth person to die in the Tarrant County jail this year, according to records from the Texas Attorney General’s Office.