One of the young men convicted in the 2010 slaying of a D.C. middle school principal has been shot and killed after forcing a man and woman into their home at gunpoint, police said.
Police said Joel Johnson, 21, and another armed suspect forced their way into an apartment on the 4200 block of First Street SE at about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Once inside, a struggle ensued, and Johnson was shot in the face, police said. The female victim jumped out of a third-story window, and the second suspect fled the scene but left behind his gun.
Police were still looking for the second man Thursday evening. He’s described as a light-complexioned black male, 20 to 25 years of age, 5-foot-5 with a slim build.
Lt. Anthony Haythe said detectives are looking into whether Wednesday’s attack was connected to a similar attack Monday just blocks away. In that case, a man and woman were forced into an apartment on First Street SW, tied up and robbed. The woman was sexually assaulted.
Johnson was one of four teens convicted in the slaying of Shaw Middle School Principal Brian Betts in April 2010. Johnson was sentenced to 18 months and was released from prison in April.
The slaying of the popular principal shocked the D.C. area and led to a overhaul of the D.C. juvenile justice system.
Prosecutors say the 42-year-old Betts met his killer, 19-year-old Alante Saunders, through a sex chat line and agreed to leave the door to his Silver Spring home open.
The four young men went to Betts’ house in Silver Spring. Saunders went upstairs and shot Betts.
Johnson was linked to the crime after he was caught on camera using Betts’ stolen credit cards the same day Betts’ body was found, police said.
Johnson was originally charged with first-degree murder. He pleaded to being an accessory after the fact to first-degree murder.
At the time of the crime, Johnson was supposed to be under the care of the District’s juvenile justice system.
His criminal history dated back to January 2007, when he was arrested on charges of receiving stolen property, theft and using a vehicle without permission, records show. He was arrested on similar charges in December 2007, and again in August 2008. In December 2008, he was arrested for unlawful entry.
