Quintero: 'I got scared' during traffic stop

More on the case of Juan Leonardo Quintero, accused of shooting HPD Officer Rodney Johnson to death last week: In an interview in a Harris County jail, Quintero said he couldn't explain what happened when Johnson was shot Thursday, saying only that he "got scared" after being pulled over in a traffic stop.

Johnson pulled Quintero over for speeding Thursday afternoon near Hobby Airport and decided to arrest him after he discovered Quintero had no driver's license or other ID. Johnson patted Quintero down, but missed a 9mm pistol hidden in his waistband; police say Quintero used the gun, which belonged to his wife, to shoot Johnson four times from the back seat of Johnson's police car. Though police said Quiintero gave them a full confession, Quintero didn't admit anything to Chronicle reporter Rosanna Ruiz yesterday:

On Tuesday, the suspect would not admit to shooting the officer.

"I got scared," said a sullen Quintero, who has been charged with capital murder. "It's about a week, and I can't figure it out."

What no one seems to be able to figure out is why Quintero shot Johnson to death when he was handcuffed and locked in a police car with little hope of escape. His wife, Theresa, said last week she wondered if Quintero had a death wish; he was put on suicide watch in jail, but told Ruiz he doesn't intend to take his life. He did say he was sorry for Johnson's wife and five kids: "I'm sorry for that family. They're missing a father, and my kids are missing a father."

Quintero's next trial hearing is set for Oct. 19.