INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 1, 2025 /Press Release/ –The National Police Association is asking supporters of law enforcement to email the Connecticut Board of Parole and Pardons.
On June 5, 1991, at approximately 3:00 a.m., Connecticut Trooper Russell Bagshaw was conducting a routine patrol and checking on a closed gun store when he was ambushed and fatally shot. Trooper Bagshaw’s cruiser, still in gear with the engine running, collided with a nearby boat. He never had a chance to use his radio or exit his vehicle.
Before the murder, Duane Johnson (inmate #205961) who is now up for parole, and his brother, Terry Johnson, had broken into the Land and Sea Sports Center and were in the process of stealing firearms and ammunition. As Trooper Bagshaw approached the scene in his cruiser, Duane Johnson alerted his brother, who positioned himself to ambush the Trooper. After the shooting, the brothers fled the scene. On June 7, 1991, Duane and Terry Johnson were arrested.
The brothers were convicted with Terry being sentenced to death and Duane being sentenced to life without parole. Terry’s sentence was later reduced to life without parole and Duane’s was later reduced to life, which is why he is eligible for parole now.
Duane’s original life sentence without the possibility of parole must be upheld. Granting parole in this case would undermine the seriousness of taking a law enforcement officer’s life and erode the trust placed in the criminal justice system to protect those who serve and safeguard the public.
Trooper Russell Bagshaw was well-respected and served his community as a member of the Connecticut State Police for over four years. At just 28 years old, he left behind a grieving family, including a young wife to whom he had been married for less than a year. His loss was deeply felt across the community he served.
Parole is a privilege. Given the premeditated nature of this crime, the murder of a law enforcement officer, and the enduring impact on Trooper Bagshaw’s family and community, inmate #205961 should be required to serve the entirety of his life sentence without exception.
Email the Board of Parole and Pardons at ct.bpp@ct.gov
Subject line: “Duane Johnson, #205961, General Public Victim Impact Statement for Russell Bagshaw”
Please email it no later than February 6, 2025. A sample letter to the Board of Parole and Pardons is available here.
The National Police Association is a nonprofit organization that supports law enforcement through advocacy, education, and law. For more information, visit NationalPolice.org.
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