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Suspect In Shooting Of RPD Officer Expected To Be Indicted On At Least One Felony

Rochester Police Department

A grand jury has indicted Thomas Johnson III on at least one felony count in connection with the Sept. 3 shooting death of Officer Daryl Pierson.

Attorneys attended a preliminary hearing Tuesday morning for Johnson in Rochester City Court. District Attorney Sandra Doorley notified the judge that the grand jury voted to indict Johnson on at least one felony charge.

Johnson was not in court. He remains in satisfactory condition at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester.

Johnson was initially charged with aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder, and faces multiple charges of assault and weapons counts.

His court-appointed attorney, James Hinman, told Time Warner Cable News  he won't rule out requesting a change of venue because of all of the publicity in the case. Doorley says she has faith in the Rochester community that people will be able to review the evidence fairly and ultimately make a determination.

Randy Gorbman is WXXI's director of news and public affairs. Randy manages the day-to-day operations of WXXI News on radio, television, and online.