Man Pleads Guilty to Shooting At Bossier City Officer
A man who attempted to shoot a Bossier City police officer following a traffic stop, then was shot by the officer, enters a plea and receives his sentence.
According to information from the Bossier-Webster District Attorney's Office, 21-year-old Malik Wortham decided to plead guilty as charged to attempted first-degree murder -- just after the officer, Sgt. Kenneth Johnson, testified yesterday.
Wortham has been sentenced to 25 years in prison. He had faced a possible 50-year term.
The shooting happened in April outside the West Gate of Barksdale Air Force Base, when Sgt. Johnson pulled over a motorist driving in the wrong direction.
Here's more on the case:
Johnson, who suspected drugs, questioned the driver, Nathan Birdwell, then approached the passenger to talk to him. Video from the officer's patrol car showed a handgun suddenly come out of the window. With the barrel of the gun inches from the officer's face, the holder of the gun pulled the trigger. The gun jammed.
Johnson jumped back and shot three times, hitting Wortham in the side of the head.
Police said they found drugs in the car. Birdwell, 18, is scheduled to be back in court on Jan. 17 for a hearing on his case, which involves marijuana possession charges.