Identities Released in Officer Involved Shooting

LUFKIN — Lufkin Police release the names of those involved in an early Wednesday morning officer-involved shooting. 40-year-old Epthen Lamont Johnson, of Lufkin, was pronounced dead at a Lufkin hospital following the altercation. Police said Johnson was on top of his victim, Jose Isabel Rodriguez Jr., 32, attempting to cut his throat when Officer Robert Blake Witherspoon shot him. Authorities said the officer’s verbal commands were ignored when the officer took lethal action. Rodriguez was hospitalized with multiple injuries. Per Department policy, the Texas Rangers are handling the investigation and have taken custody of all related evidence including the 911 audio, dash and body cam videos, scene photos and witness statements.