Left inset: Leroy King (Norfolk police). Right inset: Albert Johnson (Metropolitan Funeral Service). Background: Norfolk, Virginia, apartment where King shot Johnson to death for knocking on the door (WAVY/YouTube).
A 74-year-old Virginia man is headed to prison — likely for the rest of his life — for shooting and killing a man who had mistakenly knocked on his door.
Leroy Frank King received a 45-year sentence for the slaying of 38-year-old Albert Patrick Johnson, the Norfolk Commonwealth”s Attorney’s Office said in a press release. The judge suspended 20 years from the sentence, meaning he will serve 25 years behind bars. If he were released from prison, he would be on probation for an additional three years.
The incident occurred around 5:30 p.m. on June 20, 2023, at an apartment in the 2900 block of Pleasant Avenue in Norfolk.
According to prosecutors, Johnson had earlier in the day mistakenly knocked on King’s door, thinking it was his friend’s home who lived nearby. When Johnson again knocked on the door, King grabbed a gun before coming outside, where he shot the victim in the neck and torso. Medics pronounced King dead on scene.
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This wasn’t the first time King used a gun to shoot someone. He was previously convicted in a 2003 nonfatal shooting of a neighbor, per prosecutors.
In April, a jury found King guilty of second-degree murder and using a firearm in the commission of murder. Despite the verdict, King at sentencing earlier this month continued to deny his guilt, claiming he was “legally entitled” to shoot Johnson, prosecutors said.
“Mr. King had no right to shoot the victim, and, both at his age and with his prior conduct, he absolutely should have known better,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. “I extend my condolences to Mr. Johnson’s family for losing their loved one in such a senseless way. He did nothing wrong. The fact that Mr. King does not see that he committed a crime means that Mr. King poses a continuing danger to the public and that his sentence fits his crime.”
Fatehi told local NBC affiliate WAVY that Johnson was disabled after suffering some injuries as a teenager.
According to his obituary, Johnson dreamed of becoming a famous rapper. He had a “captivating spirit,” loved ones said.
“Albert was strong and triumphant, overcoming many adversities in his life. Albert will be remembered for all the heart he shared with his family and friends, for the laughter and joy he brought to the lives to all who knew him, and his larger-than-life personality,” the obituary said.
