In the spring of 2015, the life of 46-year-old Alfred Wiley was cut short on the streets of Gary, Indiana. On April 28th, Wiley was shot and killed in the Miller section of the city, at 3rd Avenue and Hancock Street. His death was not a random act of violence, but rather a calculated revenge killing with roots stretching back a decade.
The man responsible for Wiley's death was David Johnson IV. Years prior, Wiley had shot Johnson in the head, an act that cost Johnson one of his eyes.
The simmering desire for vengeance culminated that April day when Johnson, accompanied by his son, sought out and fatally shot Wiley. Johnson used a. 38-caliber revolver to end Wiley's life.
The story, however, did not end with Wiley's death. In an attempt to conceal his involvement in the murder, Johnson gave the revolver to 18-year-old Arreon Lackey. When Johnson later wanted the gun back, it set in motion a tragic chain of events that would lead to more bloodshed. Roughly two months after Wiley's murder, Arreon Lackey and his 16-year-old brother, Antonio, were kidnapped and murdered. The motive behind these killings was Johnson's desire to eliminate any connection to the. 38-caliber revolver that linked him to Wiley's death.
The investigation into the three homicides ultimately led to the arrest of David Johnson IV. His trial brought to light the intricate and brutal details of the interconnected murders. Prosecutors successfully argued that Johnson killed Wiley in an act of revenge and then orchestrated the murders of the Lackey brothers to cover his tracks. Johnson’s son, David Johnson V, became a key witness for the prosecution.
In the end, a jury found David Johnson IV guilty on all charges, including three counts of murder. He was sentenced to 195 years in prison for the deaths of Alfred Wiley and the Lackey brothers. Several other individuals, including Johnson's wife, Jeri Woods, were also charged and convicted for their roles in the kidnapping and murder of the two teenagers.
