El Cerrito Police ID Man Shot by Officers

Police provided additional details Saturday about the shooting this week of a Richmond man near a gas station at San Pablo and Potrero avenues.

They said Michael Christopher Johnson, 48, was pistol-whipping a woman and ignored officers' orders that he stop his attack. They fired six times at Johnson, according to a news release issued Saturday.

Here's the full text of that release:

Officer Involved Shooting – Updated Information

El Cerrito, CA – December 29, 2012

At 6:40 pm, on December 27, the El Cerrito Police Department received 911 calls from residents in the area reporting a disturbance behind the Chevron gas station, located at the corner of San Pablo Ave. and Potrero Ave.  The callers reported that a woman was yelling for help and a witness helped point out the area to responding officers.  El Cerrito officers arrived at the location and found Michael Christopher Johnson (48 years old, of Richmond) striking a woman in the head with the pistol.  Mr. Johnson ignored orders from the officers at the scene to stop his attack.  When Mr. Johnson pointed his gun at the woman, officers fired their weapons to prevent him from shooting.  Officers fired a total of six times at Mr. Johnson.

Officers immediately assessed both Mr. Johnson and the woman for their medical needs.  They summoned ambulances and emergency medical personnel from AMR and the El Cerrito Fire Department to begin rendering aid to both individuals.  Mr. Johnson suffered from a number of gunshot wounds and the woman suffered from head injuries.

Mr. Johnson was transported to the hospital, where he remains in custody and in critical condition.  The woman was also taken to the hospital and treated for her injuries.  She was released later in the evening.  Officers learned that Mr. Johnson was in a long-term relationship with the woman.

The El Cerrito Police Department plans to seek charges against Mr. Johnson for domestic battery, assault with a deadly weapon, illegal gun possession and attempted murder. 

The officers involved in the shooting have a combined eight years of law enforcement experience.