Richard Neil Johnson, a 71-year-old White male, was a beloved figure in his Puyallup, Washington, neighborhood, known for being a friend to everyone and a "one-man neighborhood watch." A retiree, he owned several rental properties and was known for working tirelessly on them from sunup to sundown. He had been married to his wife, Sally, for 50 years and had two children and three grandchildren.
His life was tragically cut short on August 11, 2015, during a violent rampage that shocked the community.
On that Tuesday, Johnson was working on one of his rental homes when he encountered 34-year-old Nathen Ryan Terault. Terault was fleeing from Puyallup police after an attempted traffic stop for speeding. After abandoning his own vehicle near Johnson's property, Terault confronted Johnson. In a senseless act of violence, Terault shot Johnson twice, killing him. He then proceeded to steal a bag from Johnson's vehicle, marking the beginning of a chaotic and terror-filled sequence of events that would unfold through the quiet neighborhood.
Following the murder of Richard Johnson, Terault's violent spree continued. He fired shots at a woman and her two children who were nearby. He then attempted to steal a truck from a neighboring home, firing at the residents when they confronted him. He forced his way into their garage and, after a tense standoff where he pointed his gun at a woman's face, he stole her car keys and crashed the vehicle through the garage door to make his escape. The ensuing police chase was marked by more violence as Terault fired multiple shots at pursuing officers and a pedestrian. He collided with another vehicle and fired at its occupants before abandoning the stolen car and attempting to carjack another.
The rampage finally came to an end when a Puyallup police officer struck Terault with a patrol car, pinning him underneath. He was subsequently arrested and transported to a local hospital for his injuries. In the aftermath of the harrowing events, Nathen Ryan Terault was charged with a litany of felonies, including first-degree murder for the death of Richard Johnson, robbery, and multiple counts of assault. He initially pleaded not guilty.
Ultimately, Nathen Ryan Terault pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, first-degree robbery, and five counts of second-degree assault. He was sentenced to over 51 years in prison, ensuring he would no longer be a threat to the community. In 2017, the Washington State Court of Appeals affirmed his conviction. The tragic and random nature of Richard Johnson's death left a lasting scar on his family and the Puyallup community, who came together to support his wife and finish the remodeling work he had so diligently started on the rental home where his life was taken.
