KERA News: Tarrant County dropped from lawsuit over Anthony Johnson Jr.’s death in custody
February 15, 2025
The lawsuit over Anthony Johnson Jr.’s death in Tarrant County Jail custody isn't over, but Tarrant County has been spared from litigation. Johnson died on April 21, 2024 after an…
Topics: 2025news, Custody Death, Use of Force
Tarrant County
The lawsuit over Anthony Johnson Jr.’s death in Tarrant County Jail custody isn’t over, but Tarrant County has been spared from litigation.
Johnson died on April 21, 2024 after an altercation with Tarrant County jailers. One jailer knelt on his back, while Johnson said he couldn’t breathe. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled Johnson’s death a homicide by asphyxiation, and two jailers — Rafael Moreno and Joel Garcia — have been indicted for murder.
Johnson’s family sued Tarrant County and more than a dozen jailers accused of involvement in Johnson’s death. On Friday, U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor dismissed the claims against Tarrant County and six of the named jailers.
Johnson family attorney Daryl K. Washington plans to appeal the ruling, he told KERA News. He maintained the problems at the Tarrant County Jail are systemic.
“If Garcia and Moreno worked for Coca-Cola, and they injured or killed somebody during the course and scope of their duty, Coca-Cola would be held liable,” he said.
The ruling is a disappointment, Krish Gundu of Texas Jail Project said in an emailed statement. Her organization advocates for better conditions in county jails across the state.
“It’s our sincere hope that Mr. Johnson Jr’s family gets the speedy justice they seek,” Gundu wrote. “Additionally, we hope the county, especially [the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office], does not interpret this dismissal as a blank check to keep engaging in policies and procedures that have led to serious harms and deaths.”