Family of Anthony Johnson Jr. call jailers’ murder indictments a ‘victory,’ but not enough

Read the latest in our coverage of the death of Anthony Johnson Jr. and other issues in Tarrant County jail.

“Why, why?”

“Why would you want to have somebody pinned down on the ground and say, ‘I can’t breathe?’” 10-year-old Corbin Johnson asked reporters, standing next to his mother and other family outside the Tarrant County Commissioners Court.

Corbin has not seen the jail video showing the death of his uncle, Anthony Johnson Jr., but he has watched his family grieve the past three months. On Tuesday, the family returned once again to speak to commissioners about conditions at the jail and accountability for Johnson’s death.

Johnson died of asphyxiation in the Tarrant County jail on April 21. His death was ruled a homicide , and two sheriff employees were indicted on murder charges June 28, booked over the weekend and released on bond .

The two jail employees are Rafael Moreno Jr., who knelt on Johnson’s back for 90 seconds after he had been pepper-sprayed and handcuffed, and Joel Garcia, a supervisor who recorded video of the altercation.

Johnson’s family spoke to reporters Tuesday for the first time since the indictments.

“We are here in front of the commissioners court and they really act like this family are criminals,” their attorney, Daryl Washington, said. “All these elected officials don’t have the compassion to come out. There’s only been one commissioner who has spoken with his family. This county judge had Janell escorted out of a meeting.”

County Judge Tim O’Hare ejected Janell Johnson , a sister of Anthony, as she spoke at a commissioners meeting on June 4, when she yelled and demanded O’Hare look at her.

Earlier Tuesday morning, Anthony Johnson’s parents Jacqualyne and Anthony Johnson Sr. addressed county commissioners during public comments.

Anthony Johnson Sr. told commissioners that he maintained his son’s schizophrenia for a decade and reminded the audience they could all have a loved one who struggles with mental health issues. The family and their advocates also repeated calls to release the entire video showing Johnson’s treatment in jail.

Washington said the full video — only five minutes have been publicly released — was damning.

“When you get to see how Anthony was treated, after those six minutes, you’re going to now see how the operations the Tarrant County Jail are actually conducted,” Washington said.

The family and Washington said they were thankful for the indictments but that others deserve to be charged as well.

Washington said a civil lawsuit could be filed “any day” against individuals involved.

When the family was asked about the $125,000 bonds set for Moreno and Garcia, Washington called the indictments a “victory in itself” and said “this is something, not only for this family, but for all the other families who have been fighting and who have not been this fortunate to get individuals indicted who took their loved one’s life.”