Photo credit: Virginia Beach Police. Javante Darquese Johnson
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – The Commonwealth’s Attorney for the city of Virginia Beach, announced Monday that 22-year-old Javante Darquese Johnson was sentenced for shooting three teens in April.
Johnson was sentenced for three counts of Malicious Wounding, three counts of Use of a Firearm, and Possession of Firearm by Felon.
A judge sentenced Johnson to 28 years in prison with 12 years suspended leaving 16 years to serve.
Johnson pleaded guilty on August 1.
In the announcement from the office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney, officials said on April 27, 2015 a group of juveniles was playing basketball in the Pecan Gardens neighborhood in Virginia Beach.
After their game, they were standing in a circle talking when Johnson walked past them.
Officials say words were exchanged, and someone in the group told Johnson to “keep walking.” Johnson pulled out a handgun and fired between four to six shots at the group from about 15 to twenty feet away.
The juveniles scattered, ran, and checked themselves for injuries. Three teens were transported to the hospital for gunshot wounds. One had a wound in the chest and arm, another was injured in the elbow, and another in the leg. All three survived their injuries.
A description of the shooter was provided to police and Javante Johnson was named as a suspect.
One juvenile identified Johnson in a photo line-up, and one other identified him in court.
On May 5, 2015, Johnson was arrested and police searched a bedroom he shared with his girlfriend. A 9 mm Glock magazine with seven bullets was recovered, along with .38 caliber ammunition and two fired casings.
No casings were found at the scene of the shooting, but several witnesses reported that the weapon used was likely a revolver which would not eject casings. Johnson denied his involvement in the shooting.
Johnson had prior convictions for Grand Larceny, Destruction of Property, Burglary, Possession of Burglary Tools, Petit Larceny, Obstruction of Justice, Assault and Possession of Marijuana with the Intent to Distribute.
