Government Refuses to Release Mass. State Trooper Shooting Inquest Report for Preston Johnson

Boston attorney Stephen Hrones filed a motion Tuesday requesting the public release of an inquest report on the shooting death of Fitchburg resident Preston Johnson. The motion asks for a superior court judge to lift a standing impoundment on the report by Judge Robert V. Greco, if the document does not recommend criminal prosecution of anyone in connection with Johnson's death. District Attorney John Conte called for the inquest to determine whether someone can be criminally charged for the Nov. 3 fatal shooting of Johnson, 30, by a state trooper following an early-morning police chase through Fitchburg streets. Hrones argues that Conte should state whether he will prosecute anyone, and if he is not, Greco's report should be released in full.Conte has access to the inquest's findings, but has not yet publicly decided whether to seek charges against anyone. Hrones gave a copy of the motion, signed on behalf of Johnson's mother, Dorothy Johnson, to the Sentinel & Enterprise. "The family's concern is that the District Attorney will for an undue period of time claim no decision has been made as to whether they will prosecute, thus denying the victim's family access to the facts relating to the death of their son, brother, husband and father," the motion reads. State Trooper Donald C. Gray shot Johnson once to protect himself and Fitchburg Officer Douglas Darton, Gray's attorney, according to Gray's attorney, Joseph P. Kittredge. Johnson died the next day at a Worcester hospital. Greco's report is the result of five days of testimony at a closed-door inquest. The document was immediately impounded when it arrived at the Worcester Superior Court in late March, and access to it is limited. Conte has declined several requests from the Sentinel & Enterprise for comment on the inquest report over the past several weeks. Hrones said the family won't consider filing a civil suit in connection with Johnson's death until the inquest report is released.[MORE]