Johnae McGowin, a 22-year-old African American woman, was found dead in her apartment in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood of Chicago on February 9, 2022. Her death was discovered by a concerned co-worker who went to check on her after she failed to show up for work. Johnae McGowin was found with a single gunshot wound to the head, indicating she had been murdered.
The investigation into Johnae McGowin's death led to the arrest of two suspects, Lonesha Strong, 18, and Marshawn Owens, 20.
Both were charged with her murder. According to prosecutors, the suspects were connected to the crime through Facebook messages and surveillance footage. The evidence showed that Marshawn Owens had contacted Johnae McGowin a day before her death, claiming to have gone to high school with her. They exchanged flirtatious messages, and Johnae McGowin provided Owens with her address and a bus schedule. Surveillance footage captured Owens meeting McGowin and entering her apartment building together.
Lonesha Strong, who had access to Owens' Facebook account, saw the messages exchanged between Owens and McGowin. She sent messages of her own, but McGowin did not respond. Surveillance footage later showed Strong arriving at McGowin's apartment building and meeting Owens at the door. Both suspects were seen entering the building together, and no one else was recorded entering or leaving during the time they were inside.
Once in custody, both Strong and Owens gave video-recorded statements to detectives, each blaming the other for pulling the trigger. Strong claimed that she found Owens and McGowin in bed together, which led to an argument. During the altercation, McGowin woke up and became angry upon discovering Owens was in a relationship. The exact details of who fired the fatal shot remain disputed between the two suspects.
Both Lonesha Strong and Marshawn Owens were denied bail during their court hearings. The case against them is ongoing, with both facing serious charges for the murder of Johnae McGowin. The tragic death of this young woman has left a significant impact on her community and highlights the complexities and challenges of investigating and prosecuting such cases.
