State v. Deon Lennard Johnson, C-08-CR-19-000855
LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Friday, December 10, 2021, a Charles County jury found Deon Lennard Johnson, 26, of La Plata, guilty of Attempted Second-Degree Murder, two counts of First-Degree Assault, and related charges.
On October 2, 2019, officers responded to the 2700 block of Port Tobacco Road in Nanjemoy for the report of a home invasion. As one officer was pulling into the driveway of the residence, he observed a suspect, later determined to be Johnson, running away from one of the victims. Victim 1 was suffering from stab wounds to her head and shoulder. She reported to the officer that her mother was inside of the residence. When officers entered the residence, they discovered her mother, Victim 2, suffering from a stab wound to her neck. Both victims were flown to the Prince George’s County Hospital Center for treatment. Fortunately, they both survived the assault.
An investigation revealed that Johnson had a romantic relationship with Victim 1 that ended prior to the day of the incident. Victim 2 obtained a peace order as a result of Johnson’s unpredictable behavior and repeated trips to their residence uninvited. On the day of the incident, Johnson forced entry into the victims’ residence through prying a window open with a prybar. Johnson began stabbing Victim 2 repeatedly with a knife. Victim 1 ran out of the residence to seek assistance from a neighbor; however, she was followed by Johnson. Johnson tried to force her to leave with him multiple times, but she refused. He then stabbed her repeatedly after hearing sirens in the distance. Upon police arrival, Johnson was observed standing over Victim 1, who ran to the police. Johnson fled into the woods. He left his cell phone, prybar, and bookbag on the property.
Victim 1 suffered over 20 stab wounds. Victim 2 suffered over 10 stab wounds.
A sentencing date has been set for March 14, 2022. Johnson faces a maximum sentence of 58 years and 3 months.
Guilty
- Attempted Second-Degree Murder
- Two counts of First-Degree Assault
- Fourth-Degree Burglary
- Violation of Peace Order