In the spring of 2014, a 29-year-old African American man named Carl Johnson was tragically killed in a violent kidnapping and robbery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His life was cut short on April 18, 2014, a day after he and another man, Ryan Hardy, were abducted.
The two men were targeted in a premeditated robbery scheme. Their captors bound their heads and hands with duct tape before shooting them multiple times and leaving them on a secluded street in the Crescentville neighborhood.
Johnson suffered gunshot wounds to his face, back, and leg and succumbed to his injuries at the scene. Hardy was also shot in the back and forearm but survived the brutal attack.
An investigation led to the identification and arrest of five suspects in connection with the crime. The individuals charged were Brandon McKelvey, Nysare Alston, DeForest Johnson, Ken Thomas, and Christopher Corley. The motive for the abduction and shooting was determined to be robbery.
Over the course of the investigation and legal proceedings, all suspects were apprehended. One of the suspects, Ken Thomas, pleaded guilty to third-degree murder and other charges. DeForest Johnson, who was not related to the victim, was the last of the five to be taken into custody. The case against the other men also moved through the court system, with charges including murder, robbery, and kidnapping.
