On the evening of March 11, 1984, Kenneth Cantrell, a 29-year-old male, was at his home in Hartselle, Alabama, where he and his wife, Nell, operated a jewelry business. The night took a tragic turn when a man, later identified as Anthony Keith Johnson, called to arrange a meeting under the pretense of purchasing jewelry. Sensing something was amiss, Cantrell armed himself with a.
38 caliber pistol and instructed his wife to hide his wallet.
Shortly after the suspicious phone call, Johnson and an accomplice arrived at the Cantrell residence. When Kenneth Cantrell answered the door, he was immediately attacked. A violent struggle ensued, and in the chaos, Cantrell was shot six times. The gunshot wounds to his chest proved fatal, piercing his lungs and major arteries, leading to a rapid death. During the confrontation, Cantrell managed to fire his own weapon, wounding Johnson.
The investigation into the murder of Kenneth Cantrell led authorities to Anthony Keith Johnson the following day. Johnson had sought medical treatment for a gunshot wound to his back, which was later confirmed to be from the gun fired by Cantrell. Johnson was subsequently indicted by a Morgan County Grand Jury in June 1984 for the intentional murder of Kenneth Cantrell during the course of a robbery. He was tried, found guilty, and ultimately sentenced for his role in the crime.
