HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Workers and customers were in shock when members of a U.S. Marshals task force opened fire as they tried to arrest a man wanted for aggravated sexual assault of a child in North Texas.
Before multiple gunshots shattered the McDonald's window at 505 Bay Area Blvd, and before wanted fugitive Robert Johnson was finally captured, stylist Jessica Haughton noticed something unusual while inside a nearby salon.
"I just noticed a cop parked outside (of the salon)," she said. "It seemed kind of odd because it was Galveston, and this is Harris County. He was by himself."
That deputy and several others were part of the Gulf Coast Fugitive Task Force.
According to U.S. Marshal of the Southern District of Texas T. Michael O'Connor, the task force was looking for Johnson, who was wanted on an outstanding warrant for charges of aggravated sexual assault of a child from September 2024. They found him sitting by the McDonald's window.
"He had a computer, and it looked like he was communicating with someone," OConner said. The suspect was using general open Wi-Fi at the time.
At about 9:40 a.m., officers approached the building and the suspect, Robert Gregory Johnson III.
Investigators said he stood up, and officers requested that he comply, but he did not.
Law enforcement deployed a taser, which they said seemed not to have an impact, and Johnson allegedly raised an unknown object in the officers' direction, prompting authorities outside to open fire.
Lexi Coleman heard the shots.
"There was probably 5 or 6 of them, and I heard them in a row," Coleman, who works at nearby DC Natural Medicine, said. "I didn't see any commotion so I just thought, 'Oh you're just being paranoid.'"
O'Connor said that despite the series of events, Johnson was still not complying, and authorities deployed a K-9 officer.
At that point, Johnson was arrested and taken to the hospital.
Sources told ABC13 that Johnson stayed on and off at a nearby motel, and even had his mail sent here. They told us Johnson arrived in the area most recently a week ago, and was asking for restaurant recommendations and making small talk.
Back in January, the Collin County Sheriff's Office posted on social media, asking the public for help in finding Johnson after he had removed his ankle monitor.
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