Attempted Murder Trial For Accused Trooper-Shooter in 2nd Week

The Attempted Murder trial of a Colesville man accused of shooting and wounding a New York State Trooper in June of last year is dragging through its second week.

 Jason Johnson is accused of shooting Trooper Becky Seager while his father, David Johnson is also on trial, accused of evidence tampering.

According to New York State Police accounts from the incident, authorities were called for a “check the welfare” request and a report of a suspicious person in the area of East Windsor Road and Thorn Hill Road at around 8:30 p.m. on June 9.  Concerned callers reported a man drawing in the middle of the road.

When Troopers and Broome County Sheriff’s Deputies encountered the man, the suspect opened fire with at least one round striking Trooper Becky Seager in the hip.  Another Trooper was wounded in the arm by shrapnel.

Investigators say Johnson fled the scene and became the center of a massive manhunt in northeastern Broome County that lasted around 21 hours.

Authorities launched a massive manhunt for Jason Johnson, which lasted over 20 hours and involved law enforcement officers from several agencies as well as state forest and environmental police.  Tips from residents assisted the authorities as a State Police Aviation Unit was deployed and the air and ground search found the Colesville man along the banks of the Susquehanna River off Route 79 in Colesville at around 4:40 p.m. on June 10.

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Meanwhile, Johnson’s father, 64-year-old David Johnson was arrested almost a month later and charged with evidence tampering.  The elder Johnson pleaded not guilty September 9, 2021 in Broome County Court.

Authorities had accused the father of assisting his son by rearranging clothing and hiding evidence, possibly including shell casings in a cabin in the days following the shooting.

Jury selection in the combined trial started August 2.