Johnson apologizes to game warden's family - abc27 WHTM

Christopher Johnson, the Adams County man facing the death penalty for killing a wildlife conservation officer, has apologized to the victim's family.

Johnson spoke Thursday morning during the penalty phase of his murder trial. After the hearing, the jury will decide if he should be sentenced to death for killing 31-year-old David Grove.

"Nothing I say or do will ease your pain," Johnson told the family. "Nothing will bring back Officer Grove."

Johnson was convicted of first-degree murder Monday for fatally shooting Grove in November 2010 after the wildlife officer stopped Johnson and another man for illegally killing a deer in Freedom Township.

"I just want to say I'm sorry for the pain I caused your family," Johnson said. "I wish there was more I could do."

The jury on Wednesday heard from friends and family of both Johnson and Grove. Johnson's relatives said he was abandoned by his father as a child and fell into the wrong crowd as a teenager, but became a loving father to his daughter despite bouts with depression and alcoholism.

Defense attorneys for the 29-year-old Johnson acknowledged during the trial that the Fairfield man shot Grove, but they said Johnson was too drunk to form the intent to kill and argued for third-degree murder.

Adams County District Attorney Shawn Wagner argued that Johnson killed Grove to avoid going back to prison. Johnson was not allowed to have gun because he was a convicted felon.

Jurors were told that Johnson deliberately shot at Grove 15 times. The 31-year-old game warden sustained three gunshot wounds, including a fatal wound to the neck. Ten rounds from his gun were recovered from the shooting scene.