Youngkin grants clemency to a fired Virginia police sergeant who shot and killed an unarmed man

RICHMOND,Va.—(AP)—DaysafterajudgesentencedaVirginiapoliceofficertoprisoninthefatalshootingofanunarmedmanaccusedofstealingsunglasses,thestate’sRepublicangovernorgrantedthefiredofficerclemency,meaninghewon’thavetoservefurthertimebehindbars. WesleyShifflett,36,wassentencedFridaytothreeyearsinprisonafterhewasconvictedofrecklesslyhandlingafirearmduringtheFeb.22,2023,shootingofTimothyMcCreeJohnson.Thejuryacquittedhimofinvoluntarymanslaughter. Gov.GlennYoungkingrantedShifflettclemencyonSunday,removinghisprisonrequirementbutkeepingintacthisfelonyconviction. “Iamconvincedthatthecourt’ssentenceofincarcerationisunjustandviolatesthecornerstoneofourjusticesystem—thatsimilarlysituatedindividualsreceiveproportionatesentences,”Youngkin,aRepublican,saidSunday.Inhisstatement,YoungkinreferredtosentencingguidelinesrecommendingnoincarcerationforShifflettthatwereproposedbyaprobationandparoleoff