Suspect to plead guilty to Terrell police officer’s murder

TERRELL, Texas - A man charged with killing a police officer in Terrell is expected to enter a guilty plea in court on Wednesday.

What we know:

According to court documents, Darrian Cortez Johnson accepted a plea deal ahead of his capital murder trial for the death of Officer Jacob Candanoza.

Cortez Johnson is expected to plead guilty on Wednesday morning and will be sentenced by a judge to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

No cameras will be allowed inside the courtroom.

The backstory:

Officer Candanoza died on Dec. 8, 2024 after he pulled over a pickup truck with an expired license plate in a motel parking lot off Highway 34 in Terrell.

Police said Cortez Johnson, who was the driver, shot Officer Candanoza several times in the head and face at close range.

Before he died at the hospital, Candanoza was able to give Cortez Johnson’s license plate number to other officers. They tracked down and arrested him a few hours later.

Dig deeper:

Candanoza was a U.S. Marine veteran who went on to become a Dallas Sheriff’s deputy and then an officer with the Terrell Police Department. He was also a husband and father.

The city of Terrell has ensured that his legacy will live on by renaming a portion of Hwy. 34 in his honor.