Leona L. Johnson, a 50-year-old African American woman, was a secretary for the Rocky Mount Police Department's Uniform Operations Division. On December 21, 2007, she failed to show up for work, prompting police to check on her at her residence on Compass Creek Drive. Upon arrival, officers found a broken glass in the back door and made entry into the home. Inside, they discovered Leona Johnson and her friend Deborah Scriven, 44, both shot to death in different rooms of the house.
Devin Scriven, Deborah's 21-year-old son, was also shot but survived and was airlifted to the hospital in critical condition.
The investigation revealed that the shooting occurred between 3:45 a.m. and 9:45 a.m. on the morning of December 21, 2007. Police determined that it was not a random incident and that the victims likely knew their killer. Witnesses reported seeing two people leaving the scene, but only one suspect, Antonio Wardell Matthews, was ever charged. Matthews was initially charged with first-degree murder, but the trial ended in a mistrial in 2011. He later pleaded guilty to manslaughter in 2012 and was sentenced to five years in prison, although he was released on parole after eight months.
Despite the conviction, the case remains unsolved, and the Rocky Mount Police Department continues to seek justice for Leona Johnson and Deborah Scriven. A reward of up to $15,000 is offered for information leading to an arrest in the case. The investigation is ongoing, and the police have identified a person of high interest in the fatal home invasion.
The tragic deaths of Leona Johnson and Deborah Scriven have deeply affected the Rocky Mount community, and the police department remains committed to solving this case and bringing closure to the victims' families.
