Nyssa Police Officer Joseph Johnson’s murderer pleads guilty
By Joe Hathaway on Thursday, March 21st, 2024 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
MALHEUR COUNTY – The man who shot and killed Nyssa Police Department Reserve Officer Joseph Johnson is expected to be sentenced to life in prison.
Rene Castro pled guilty to the Aggravated Murder of Johnson. According to Malheur County District Attorney David Goldthorpe, the anticipated sentence to be given by the court will be life in prison with the possibility of parole after a minimum of 30 years.
On April 15, 2023, Johnson responded to a concerned call of a violent individual who was threatening people near a Nyssa residence and damaging property.
The suspect, Rene Castro of Nyssa, fled the scene in a vehicle and led Officer Johnson on a pursuit through Nyssa. Castro stopped at the corner of Locust and 3rd Street North, and Officer Johnson pulled off the road as well. Castro then shot Johnson to death.
A team of law enforcement agencies, including SWAT, tracked Castro down in Ontario and arrested him on April 17.
The sentencing hearing for Castro will be April 5th at 3:00pm mountain time.
