Home ·  Classifieds ·  MyVLT2.com ·  VolTV2Go.com ·  Volzeye.com ·  Desktop Alert
KPD officer reportedly shot 'execution style' Save Email Print
Posted: 3:30 PM May 20, 2008
Last Updated: 7:03 PM May 22, 2008

A | A | A

UPDATE 5/22/08:
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- The Knoxville News-Sentinel reports that, according the a warrant, Officer Norman Rickman was shot execution style.

The paper says the first bullets took Rickman down, but then the alleged shooter reportedly stood over the officer to pull the trigger.

-----
UPDATE 5/21/08 3:48 p.m.:

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- As officers walked Cleven J. Johnson from the Knoxville Police Department Safety Building to a waiting patrol car, Johnson said, "I haven't shot nobody. I've been framed."

UPDATE 5/21/08 3:34 p.m.:

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- Cleven J. Johnson, 26, turned himself in at a restaurant on Asheville Highway after a family member of the suspect called a family member of an officer with the message that Cleven would turn himself in at that location at 2:00 p.m, according to Knoxville Police Spokesman Darrell DeBusk.

DeBusk says when officers arrived, Johnson got out of a car and surrendered.

----

UPDATE 5/21/08 2:00 p.m.:

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- The man accused of shooting Officer Norman Rickman Tuesday afternoon turned himself in to police at 1:54 p.m. Wednesday.

Knoxville Police Spokesman Darrell DeBusk says Cleven J. Johnson, 26, was taken into custody without incident.

Johnson was reportedly picked up near a business on Asheville Highway.

Knoxville Police Chief Sterling Owen said at a Wednesday afternoon press conference that Johnson will be held on a $1 million bond.

-----

UPDATE 5/21/08 10:25 a.m.:

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- Two people have been arrested, and one person is still on the loose in connection with the shooting of a Knoxville Police officer shot while answering a home burglar alarm Tuesday afternoon in Northwest Knoxville.

Knoxville Police Chief Sterling Owen says there are warrants for attempted first degree murder and especially aggravated robbery against Cleven Jaquaran Johnson, 26. Johnson is still on the run.

Johnson was picked up Friday, May 16 on a weapons charge. He was later released on bond, even though there are several arrest warrants against him for failing to appear in court.

Knoxville Police Chief Sterling Owen says the two people in custody, James Murry, 32, and Tony R. Dixon,17, are charged with especially aggravated burglary.

Murry was arrested May 16 with Johnson on Porter Avenue. Murry recently spent more than 12 years in prison for a federal carjacking conviction.

The Federal Board of Prisons says Murry spent time in prisons in Georgia, California, Louisiana, and Tennessee. At one point, he was transferred to a halfway house in Nashville were he escaped, but was later recaptured and charged. He was released from prison in April 2007.

-----

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- Eight people have been detained by police in connection with the shooting of a Knoxville Police officer Tuesday afternoon in Northwest Knoxville, according to Knoxville Police Spokesman Darrell DeBusk.

Officer Norman Rickman was shot twice in the chest, and once in the arm, according to the Anderson County Sheriff, who was at the command post.

Officer Rickman was shot at 6600 Rockbridge Lane in Northwest Knoxville. Police launched a multi-agency manhunt for three suspects allegedly involved in the shooting.

Knoxville Police Chief Sterling Owen says officer Rickman was responding to a home burglar alarm call when he was shot multiple times in the chest. He was not wearing a bulletproof vest.

The two men were arrested at a home on Malmsbury Rd. owned by a woman neighbors call "Granny." Neighbors told Volunteer TV that the woman apparently takes care of foster children.

The arrests were made less than a mile from the shooting scene.

Rickman is reportedly in critical condition Wednesday morning following surgery at UT Medical Center.

DeBusk says Rickman suffered serious internal injuries, but is expected to live.

Police say Rickman lost a lot of blood. KPD says it's a good time for people to donate blood to Medic.

Rural Metro emergency crews had to transfer the officer into another ambulance mid-route, after "debris from the road surface bounced up and struck the bottom of ambulance’s radiator. The ambulance began to experience engine problems," according to a Rural Metro statement.

DeBusk says a nearby nurse helped Rickman after the shooting, and he says Rickman was not able to return fire after being shot.

Rickman has been shot on-duty once before. He was left in critical condition after a July 2001 shooting on Papermill Drive during a traffic stop. He was shot in the chest. The suspect in that incident was shot and killed by another officer at the scene.

The suspects in the shooting are three black men. One of them is described as having braids and tattoos and wearing baggy jeans and a heavy coat. There's no further description of the other two suspects available at this time.

A white Crown Victoria car has been impounded, and DeBusk says there was a bomber-style jacket similar to the coat one of the suspects is believed to have been wearing.

DeBusk says all of the suspects should be considered armed and extremely dangerous.

Clevan J. Johnson, 26 (Photo Courtesy: Knox County Sheriff\'s Office)
Click Pictures to Enlarge
Related Stories
Day after KPD officer shot, neighborhood nearly back to normal

Two suspects missed court appearance the day KPD officer was shot

Knoxville community donates blood on behalf of shot KPD officer

Nurse's quick actions may have saved shot KPD officer's life

Neighbors react to shooting of Officer Norman Rickman

Officer Rickman injured on the job back in 2001

More Stories
Tennessee Unveils Latest Neyland Stadium Renovations

Chattanooga police recover lost Taser

Loudon Co. facing 3rd highest teen pregnancy rate in Tennessee

MADD, law enforcement gear up for holiday DUI crackdown

Post Your Comments
First Name:
Location:
Enter Comments: characters left
Email (optional):
Email will not be displayed on site. For station contact purpose only.
Read Comments
Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.
Posted by: Ron Location: Knoxville on May 26, 2008 at 06:25 AM
Ann...it's people like you that allow scum like Johnson out of jail on other charges so he can kill.

Posted by: TNRDR Location: Knoxville on May 23, 2008 at 03:12 AM
Tn State Code lists possession of illegal weapon AND illegal drug possession as a Class E FELONY! Why was this career criminal released on bail???????

Posted by: Ann Location: Knox on May 23, 2008 at 12:34 AM
This comment is for luisD: Did you not hear him say he did not shoot the officer?!?! He has not been proven guilty of anything yet! We are so quick to judge!

Posted by: Emily Location: Knoxville on May 23, 2008 at 12:12 AM
Both families are in my prayers….the Rickman and the Johnson family. I personally know the Johnson Family. Clevan’s family is well respected in the community and they are devastated by this. I pray the truth comes out of this.

Posted by: luisD Location: knox on May 22, 2008 at 07:53 PM
can we get some objectivity by way of the media: what did you shoot the officer for???

Posted by: Jenn on May 22, 2008 at 02:58 PM
tee: what exactly does your statement mean? i don't understand it at all!!!

Posted by: tee Location: knoxville on May 21, 2008 at 04:48 PM
just to let you guys know do anyone every stop to think about what goes threw these people mind when they do wrong? no! when we as black people im just going to put it out there.we dont have a chance when it comes to any kind of crime. they need to put good things in our present to were we could do right. on the other hand my prayers go out to the officer that got there to stop the robbery. good luck

Posted by: Eva Location: Knoxville on May 21, 2008 at 01:17 PM
Why was Johnson allowed to leave jail when arrested on May 16th even though he still had several outstanding warrants? Why is this a commom scenario?

Posted by: Sonya Location: Knoxville, Tn on May 21, 2008 at 10:37 AM
My prayers go out to Officer Rickman for a speedy recovery, and to tell him to wear that vest. I was a KPD wife for 10 years, and I know how close they are. He has a wonderful support team. Also my thoughts to his family.

Posted by: Disgusted Location: Maryville on May 20, 2008 at 11:43 PM
I hope they find the low lifes that shot this officer and get some street justice on them. I hope they never see a court room. Hopefully they'll be on the receiving end of a glock .45 cal round very soon...

Posted by: Pam Location: Hohenwald TN on May 20, 2008 at 10:11 PM
I know Norman family, i used to work with his sister Ms. Parker my prayers are with the family at this time.

Posted by: tina Location: sevierville on May 20, 2008 at 08:52 PM
my prayers are with him hope he has a speedy reccovery

DAYS HRS MINS SECS