A teen fatally shot three folks of their Humboldt County dwelling after he was found in a lady’s bed room, the district legal professional mentioned in saying the younger man’s responsible plea.
Mauricio Johnson, 19, pleaded responsible Tuesday to 3 counts of first-degree homicide.
The district legal professional’s assertion confirmed particulars concerning the killings on Feb. 10, 2021, of Margarett Moon, 40; her fiance, Nikki Metcalf, 40; and Moon’s daughter Shelly, 16.
Johnson, who was then 18, entered the house within the Bear River Rancheria, close to Fortuna, “with the permission of a number of of the minors within the dwelling,” the prosecutors’ assertion mentioned. He reportedly joined Shelly Moon and a few of her cousins. The cousins have been despatched dwelling within the early hours of Feb. 10, reportedly after Margarett Moon discovered the kids consuming.
It was shortly afterward that Metcalf found Johnson and Shelly Moon within the woman’s bed room “and commenced to battle with” the younger man, the assertion mentioned. Johnson bought a 9mm handgun from his backpack, shot Metcalf, after which shot Margarett and Shelly Moon.
Metcalf and Shelly Moon died on the scene, and Margarett Moon in a hospital.
An earlier affidavit mentioned a panicked Johnson instructed his brother that he had acted with out considering and “didn’t need to have any witnesses.” Margarett Moon’s two different youngsters, ages 11 and 13, have been unhurt, and one in every of them referred to as police round 8 a.m. Feb. 10 to report the shootings.
Johnson fled in his mom’s SUV, accompanied by his mom’s boyfriend, Von Eric Keener, 46. Johnson’s mom, Melissa, was touring with them in one other car. One of many automobiles had a monitoring system, which had been put in by the vendor in case they wished to repossess it, and the three have been positioned by freeway patrol officers on Interstate 80 in Utah round 1:30 a.m. Feb. 11. Melissa Johnson pulled over; the 2 males stored going, and the freeway patrol used a spike strip to cease them.
Mauricio Johnson and Keener have been arrested and brought into custody. Melissa Johnson was “briefly detained;” it was not introduced that she was accused of against the law.
Along with pleading responsible to the murders, Mauricio Johnson admitted particular allegations to be used of a firearm inflicting demise. Underneath the plea deal, he shall be sentenced to 150 years to life in jail, the district legal professional mentioned, and his first parole listening to shall be in 25 years.
In associated information, the Humboldt County sheriff’s division reported final week that Keener had disappeared and was being searched for violation of parole. He had reportedly eliminated an ankle monitor.
In March, after being returned from Utah, Keener was sentenced to 180 days in jail after admitting to absconding from parole and eradicating his GPS monitoring system. He was additionally charged at the moment with two counts of failure to register as a intercourse offender.
Johnson had fought extradition from Utah and was lastly returned to Humboldt County on Might 16.
