Parole denied for man who killed Modesto city employee

A man incarcerated for killing a Modesto city employee 25 years ago must remain in prison at least for another three years, because a parole board believes he continues to pose an unreasonable risk to the public if released.

George Johnson Jr., 44, was found unsuitable for parole at a May 19 hearing at Folsom State Prison in Folsom, according to the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office.

Johnson has been serving a prison sentence of 29 years and 8 months to life. He was convicted of second-degree murder, among other charges, for the shooting death of Danny Reid in May 1992. He was gunned down while riding in a car on Highway 99.

Reid, who had been working as an affirmative action officer for the city for a year, was not the intended target, authorities have said.

Investigators believed Cody Armstrong, the driver of the vehicle in which Reid was riding, was the target of the shooting. In the trial, the prosecution argued that Johnson, a member of the Modesto Hit Squad gang, believed his brother was sent to prison for a crime Armstrong had committed.

Deputy District Attorney Samuel Luzadas appeared at the parole hearing and argued that Johnson must remain behind bars. He said the crime Johnson committed was severe, and Johnson has been involved in numerous violent incidents while in custody.

This story was originally published June 11, 2017 at 3:26 PM with the headline "Parole denied for man who killed Modesto city employee."