Why Kenny Johnson (Luca) is Leaving S.W.A.T. Tonight – Find Out Now!

Warning, the following paragraphs contain spoilers for Episode 7 of Season 7 of S.W.A.T. If you don’t want to know, skip ahead!

After bidding farewell to Alex Russell, who played Officer Jim Street in Episode 5 of Season 7, fans of the Shemar Moore-led series will once again have to say goodbye to another beloved character in Episode 7, which aired this Tuesday, September 2, on TF1.

Kenny Johnson Exits S.W.A.T.

Indeed, Episode 7 of Season 7 features another departure: that of Kenny Johnson, who has played Dominique Luca since the show’s debut in 2017. His exit is a surprising one, resulting from budget cuts by CBS, the network airing the series in the United States.

At the end of Episode 6, Luca was left hanging between life and death after being shot. Fortunately, in the following episode, viewers find out that Luca has survived his injuries.

Regrettably, he soon learns he has suffered irreversible nerve damage from a shoulder injury. Consequently, he fails the medical examination required to return to field duty.

While he could have ended his career with a desk job, Luca ultimately decides to retire, leaving the S.W.A.T. team with a heavy heart.

Heartfelt Goodbyes

In an interview with TV Insider, Kenny Johnson reflected on his unexpected departure. Like his character, he found it difficult to say goodbye to the S.W.A.T. team.

“It was very emotional for me,” he said. “We have been working together for 7 years now, we all started together and naturally, that builds a trust and a bond.”

“We spend a lot of time together, and we love each other. We work out together, eat together, sit together, and shoot together. When I looked at Jay [Harrington], Anna [Enger Ritch], or David Lim, they all had tears in their eyes, because we’ve formed a personal bond. There’s real love and a real connection among us.”

Catch Kenny Johnson’s farewell on S.W.A.T. this Tuesday, September 2, starting at 9:10 PM on TF1.