Police K-9 Officer Nick O’Rear, 33, was shot and killed on 2/4/20 in a police chase while rendering mutual aid to Warrior Police on I-65 South near exit 281 in northern Jefferson County. The chase started after a Warrior officer tried to make a traffic stop about 10:00 pm. Officer Nick O’Rear was ambushed and the suspect, Preston Johnson, starting shooting at him inside the car with a Norinco Mak-90 AK-47. O’Rear was rushed to UAB hospital by Warrior firefighters in critical condition and later died with a gunshot wound to the head at 1:10 am. The suspects continued to flee. Around 1:00 am, four people were apprehended near Highway 78 in Dora and taken into custody just moments after a Blue Alert was issued for the vehicle and suspect. Officer O’Rear was a veteran of the Kimberly Police Department for one year. O’rear is a native of St. Clair County and after graduating from the police academy in July of 2018 he began his police career with the Ashville Police Department. After a year he moved to Kimberly Police Department. Officer’s O’Rear’s K9 Partner’s name is Stella and was together since November 1, 2019. He was the father of two children with one on the way, daughter Everlee, and sons Briar and Weston. Preston Johnson, 37, was later taken into custody and charged with capital murder for O’Rear’s death. He’s also charged with attempted capital murder for shooting at a Warrior officer and carries the possibility of the death penalty. This is the first Line of Duty death the Kimberly Police Department has ever had in their history. Nick is survived by his expectant beloved, a son, a daughter, his K9 partner Stella.
Johnson is known for his past history with the law. Johnson had an AR-15, which he was forbidden to have because he was a convicted felon. He had been arrested on 20 different charges dating back to the early 2000s,and convicted of at least six felony charges, he was released on his own recognizance just five days after his Oct. 31, 2019 arrest. While on bond, the defendant has been booked into the Jefferson County Jail on a charge of capital murder. In addition to those pending 2019 cases, Johnson pleaded guilty in 2017 to drug possession with intent to distribute and sentenced to 75 months in jail. His attorney asked he be able to take part in a diversion program, however a judge denied that request. In 2011, Johnson pleaded guilty to drug possession. He was sentenced to 15 years with 18 months to serve. He pleaded guilty in 2009 to drug possession and was sentenced to five years in prison. In 2005, he pleaded guilty to theft of property and received a15-year suspended sentence. He pleaded guilty to forgery in 2001 and received a three-year sentence. In addition to Johnson’s criminal history in state courts, Johnson was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2012 on a charge of being a felon in possession of a Smith & Wesson .40 caliber pistol during a June 20, 2009 arrest in Winston County The indictment showed Johnson’s previous criminal convictions: a June 6, 2001 conviction in Cullman for possession of a forged instrument; an Aug. 15, 2001 conviction in Cullman County for second degree forgery; and a May 17, 2005 conviction in Cullman County for first degree theft of property. Johnson pleaded guilty to the gun charge. He was sentenced to a year and one day in prison and a supervised release term of three years. Johnson was arrested on January 11, 2016, for violating the terms and conditions of that supervised release. The next month, a federal magistrate judge sent him to federal prison for 12 months and one day Johnson is also supposed to report to his U.S. Probation Officer each month. He reported in October 2015, but he has failed to report since that time.” After being placed on supervised release, defendant Johnson admitted to the use of methamphetamine in January 2015. He was later placed in the Color-Code Random Urinalysis Program for drug testing. Johnson never showed for the first drug test. He then failed to report for drug testing in June, August, September and October 2015. Johnson failed to appear for his test in August 2015 after having been specifically told to attend. Johnson is also supposed to report to his U.S. Probation Officer each month. He reported in October 2015, but he has failed to report since that time.
Johnson originally charged with capital murder in the killing of Kimberly Police Officer Nick O’Rear was sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to a lesser charge. Preston Johnson avoided the death penalty by pleading guilty to intentional murder. Johnson was sentenced to 25 years in prison after agreeing to the sentence, a lesser charge than the original capital murder offense he had originally faced. As part of his plea, Johnson’s prison sentence will begin after he completes his 16-year sentence in a different federal case.
