In the winter of 2021, the life of Daniel Nicholas King, a 25-year-old male, was tragically cut short in Johnson City, Tennessee. On the morning of March 10th, King was found in the parking lot of the Plymouth Ridge Apartments with multiple gunshot wounds. He was immediately transported to a local hospital but succumbed to his injuries.
The investigation into his death quickly led Johnson City police to a suspect, a 17-year-old male.
It was determined that the victim and the teenager were acquaintances. The encounter that ended in King's death was arranged for the purpose of the juvenile purchasing a firearm from him.
Following the shooting, the 17-year-old was taken into custody for questioning. He was subsequently charged with first-degree murder, aggravated robbery, and possession of a firearm by a juvenile. The investigation revealed that the teenager's intention was to rob King of the two AR-15 rifles he was selling. During the arranged meeting in the apartment complex parking lot, the suspect shot King 17 times before stealing the firearms from the trunk of his vehicle.
The suspect, identified as Darius Williams Levante Ladler, was eventually tried for his crimes. He pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and robbery. As a result of his plea, Ladler was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Daniel Nicholas King.
