Texarkana Gazette
Opening statements and testimony are expected to begin at the Miller County courthouse this morning for a man accused of capital murder in connection with a November 2015 shooting police described as a drug-related home invasion.
Justin Damone Johnson, 29, faces life without the possibility of parole if found guilty of killing Trevon Staten, 22, in the course of a narcotics-related robbery at the Beacon Point Apartments in Texarkana, Ark. The state is not seeking the death penalty.
Staten allegedly opened the door to apartment 102 shortly before midnight Nov. 15, 2015, for someone he apparently knew, according to a probable cause affidavit used to create the following account. Several masked men, one of whom investigators believe was Justin Johnson, walked into the unit shooting.
Staten's girlfriend and baby, who were seated together in the apartment when the gunfire began, were unharmed. Rashod Rushing, who had allegedly been sitting at a table with Staten when the confrontation began, allegedly grabbed a gun and ran out the door. Rushing allegedly saw one of the masked men, Julian Bolton, crawling on the ground outside, suffering from a gunshot wound.
Rushing allegedly shot Bolton twice more, killing him. He has been charged with second-degree murder.
Justin Johnson was arrested in April 2016 by federal marshals in mid-April 2016 after spending several months as a fugitive.
Justin Johnson has faced murder allegations before. According to New Mexico news reports, Justin Johnson was accused of killing two brothers, one of whom was 15, and of critically injuring a woman in a drug-related shooting in April 2010. Justin Johnson was arrested by Texarkana, Texas, police in 2010 and returned to New Mexico for trial.
A 12-member jury was chosen Monday afternoon to decide if Justin Johnson is guilty of capital murder and two counts of aggravated assault. He faces life without parole if convicted of capital murder and up to six years in prison on each of the two assault charges.
Justin Johnson is represented by Texarkana lawyer Jeff Harrelson. Deputy prosecuting attorney Connie Mitchell is handling the case for the state. Circuit Judge Kirk Johnson is presiding. The trial is expected to last at least two days.