A man who killed an off-duty police officer in 2018 received two life sentences plus 835 years, authorities announced Wednesday.
A Crittenden County jury found Demarcus Donnell Parker, 27, guilty of first-degree murder in the shooting death of Oliver Johnson, 25, 2nd Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Scott Ellington said in a news release.
Johnson, a West Memphis resident, was an officer with the Forrest City Police Department. Parker was shooting from a vehicle at rival gang members when a stray bullet struck Johnson in his home.
The jury also found Parker guilty of first-degree unlawful discharge of a firearm from a vehicle, six counts of first-degree attempted murder and 15 counts of second-degree unlawful discharge of a firearm from a vehicle.
Parker was sentenced to life in prison for the first-degree murder charge and for first-degree unlawful discharge of a firearm from a vehicle charge.
Additionally, he was given 30 years for each of the six counts of first-degree attempted murder, 20 years for each of the 15 counts of second-degree unlawful discharge of a firearm from a vehicle, a 15-year enhancement of committing a felony with a firearm on each of the previous 23 counts, and another enhancement of 10 years for committing those felonies in the presence of a child.
Ellington said investigators evaluated hundreds of pieces of evidence.
"The jury listened to both sides, and ultimately returned maximum sentences on all counts and recommended they be run consecutively," the prosecuting attorney said in the release. "Sadly, none of this will bring Officer Johnson back to his family, but maybe they will find some comfort that justice was served this week."
Attorneys for Parker did not return requests for comment by Wednesday evening.
A co-defendant in the shooting, George Jealvontia Henderson, faces similar charges and has pleaded innocent. Henderson's trial is pending.