Virgilio Kaius Johnny, a 44-year-old male of Pacific Islander descent, was found dead on June 8, 2016, in a grassy area at the Deaverview Apartments complex in Asheville, NC. His body was discovered around 6:45 a.m., approximately nine hours after police received a report of about 25 gunshots in the area. However, responding officers initially found nothing suspicious.
Johnny's death marked the second killing at Deaverview Apartments and the seventh in Asheville since January 1, 2016.
Johnny had gone to visit friends in an apartment on the night of June 7, 2016, and was supposed to return shortly. He lived in Deaverview with his son, who had just graduated from Erwin Middle School, and several other family members. His wife had passed away about two months prior. The police investigation into Johnny's death is ongoing, and no arrests have been made. An autopsy was scheduled to determine the number of gunshot wounds Johnny sustained.
The Asheville Police Department has received numerous reports of gun-related incidents in the Deaverview Apartments complex since the beginning of the year, including 17 reports of gun discharge and eight reports of a person with a gun. Despite the high number of incidents, no suspects have been identified or arrested in connection with Johnny's death. The police have urged anyone with information to come forward and assist in the investigation.
The circumstances surrounding Johnny's death remain unclear, and the community is left grappling with the tragic loss of a father and friend. The investigation continues as authorities seek to bring justice to Virgilio Kaius Johnny and his family.
