PORTLAND, Ore. – Murder suspect Spencer Thomas Johnson pleaded not guilty to shooting his girlfriend at a preliminary hearing on Wednesday morning at Multnomah County Circuit Court.
A trial date has been set for Aug. 23, 2016.
Johnson, 37, is accused of shooting and killing his girlfriend, identified as Cory Jonell Lumber, on Saturday, July 2, 2016 at Misty Firs Apartments at 1538 Southeast 122nd Avenue in Portland. Johnson is charged with one count of murder (domestic violence) and unlawful use of a weapon (domestic violence).
The medical examiner determined Lumber, who was 48 years old, died of a single gunshot wound.
A 2015 police report indicates a former girlfriend of Johnson told police that Johnson had hurt her with his hands, she was frightened of him and that he had threatened to shoot her on multiple occasions. The police officer wrote in his report that "she feels that he is eventually going to kill her."
The report stemmed from a visit by two police officers to the woman's home on Oct. 28, 2015 after a family member of Johnson's then-girlfriend had reported to police that they feared for the woman's safety. At the home, police officers spoke with the woman after which Johnson, according to the police report, approached the woman with a gun in his hand and said, "You called the cops ... I can't believe you called the cops."
The two police officers pulled their guns and demanded six times that Johnson put his down. One officer reported that he feared Johnson was going to shoot the woman and said he was prepared to shoot Johnson if he raised his weapon at the woman.
Johnson eventually relinquished the gun, a 9mm pistol, and was taken into custody. Officers asked Johnson why he hadn't surrendered his weapon and he said he didn't know who the officers were and was trying to protect his girlfriend from intruders.
Johnson was charged with two counts of interference with a police officer, attempted assault and harassment. The Oregonian reports that he pleaded guilty to one count of interfering with an officer and was sentenced to 18 months of probation.
A GoFundMe page created to help pay for Lumber's funeral expenses has raised $9,800.