BOISE, Idaho — An Ontario man has been sentenced on murder charges for the shooting of a reserve officer with the Nyssa Police Department.
On Friday, Rene Castro was sentenced to serve life in prison for aggravated murder in the shooting and killing of Joseph Johnson that occurred in April 2023, the Malheur County District Attorney, David Goldthrope told KTVB.
Johnson, who lived in Ontario, Oregon, died in the line of duty on April 15, 2023. He was 43 years old and worked as a mental health officer with the Oregon Department of Corrections. Johnson served as a reserve officer in his free time.
According to Oregon State Police, Johnson had pulled over a man suspected of damaging property and threatening people at a house when the suspect, identified as Castro, started shooting while Johnson was still in his car. The attorney said Johnson died before first responders arrived.
Oregon State Police's SWAT team members took Castro into custody the morning of April 17, 2023, in Ontario after members of that team, as well as the FBI, Ontario Police, Malheur County Sheriff's Office, and other agencies, surrounded his home.
On March 20, 2024, Castro pleaded guilty to aggravated murder in court.
Goldthrope told KTVB he would have to serve a minimum of 30 years before the possibility of parole.
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