Lonnie Earl Johnson to Be Executed by Texas
Johnson Claims Self Defense; Texas Claims Murder
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice website states that Johnson approached the two white victims, Gunar Nelson 16, and Leroy McCaffrey Jr., 17, at a convenience store in Tomball, Texas, and asked them for a ride. Approximately 4 miles after he was riding with the two he allegedly forced the two out of the truck at gunpoint and shot them both several times. The website claims that McCaffrey was chased by Johnson over 300 feet and shot and killed. Johnson then stole the truck, rode to Austin and told his girlfriend about the killings. He abandoned the truck, traded the weapon for cocaine, and was arrested two weeks later, claiming self defense. Johnson had no prior record, and was 27 years old at the time of the crime.
Lonnie has written about death row and about his crime to friend and pen pal Daffie Bidwell, and on the website, Lonnie's words of what happened that day tell a different story. Lonnie admits taking the offer of a ride in the truck with the two boys, despite the racial tension in the area, thinking the boys were too young to cause any harm.
The route was different from how it was supposed to be, and he then questioned the boys about it. That's when he felt a gun pressed up against him. In Lonnie's words, the victims said: "This is the end of the ride for you n-----." When the truck stopped, he was forced out onto the ground and the two teenagers kicked him in the head, and stomped on his back, all the time laughing and saying, "n-----, your gonna die, I hate n------, we're gonna cut you up. When he was ordered to "get your black n----- arse up." Lonnie slowly got up, and made a grab for the guy holding the gun. Lonnie was mad with rage and fear and struggled with the teenager who was bigger than him. The smaller teenager jumped on Lonnie's back. The gun went off, "the big guy falls," "I have the pistol now, the other guy comes at me with a knife, so I pulled the trigger."
More information about Lonnie's account can be read on his support page.
There are two conflicting stories to this crime. Johnson states he was offered a 50 year sentence but refused, because it was a lot of time for a crime he didn't intend to do, one that was self defense. Johnson has been on death row in Texas since 1995.
Sources:
http://www.ccadp.org/lonniejohnson.htm
TDCJ:
http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/statistics/deathrow/drowlist/johnsonl.jpg
Published by Dee
I am a prison activist/advocate writing about prison issues, hoping to make awareness, and bring reform. One out of every thirty-two people in the USA are currently on parole, probation or in prison. I am ow... View profile
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100 Comments
Post a CommentMike pennington i think that you need to get the facts str8 before you post things about someone that you dont even know and if you where to kill someone is self defense how would you feel sitting on death row mother fucker
I am white,25 male and i am so upset about this story in the sense of Lonnie Johnson didn't get a fair chance, did he test positive for cocaine after the murder that the jury accused him of.
the truth might have died with him and the boys.
I THINK YOU ARE ALL WRONG!!!!!!! A LIFE IS WORTH MORE WHO MADE THE AMERICAN AUTHORITIES GOD.WHAT RIGHT HAVE THEY TO SAY WHO LIVES AND WHO DIES ALL IN THE NAME OF BEING COST EFFECTIVE.....YOU ALL MAKE ME SICK.....ABOLISH THE DEATH PENALTY NOW......
I will not answer any posts here from others. If any want to argue that I'm racist, then let all know that I have an African wife. It will soon be 3 years for us. Skin color means nothing to me and I dislike those who stir racism to defend themselves. I never met Lonnie Johnson but know the things I'm writng here to be true. I have friends of all races.
In the hysteria of the times, most of my info came from the cops in 1990. Two innocent boys were murdered, and now Lonnie Johnson has paid the price. It is all very hollow. My heart goes out to the victims as well as the Johnson family. It's my understanding that Lonnie was an athlete and football star at Tomball High School. I'm not sure how he got so deeply into drugs as to commit murder.
I followed the investigation of the killing of those boys religiously in those days. I knew one of them very well. In fact, my daughter was married into his family. I'm not aware of racist happenings involving Lonnie Johnson or his family. There was a racial stir way before Lonnie Johnson was the suspect, but how could that involve him? The composite drawing was way off base.
The gun belonged to Lonnie. It was never found and police believe it was traded for dope at a crack house. How else would Lonnie lose it? Would he have lost it in any manner if the killings were self defense? If his story told on the internet was true, this gun would have been evidence. His Austin girlfriend became alarmed as she saw blood in the stolen truck. Thern she went to the police.
Lonnie Johnson knew one of the boys. They had dealings before with stereos and knew each other when they saw each other. This is why that boy had a gas can in hand at that convenience store as the pair of teens picked up Johnson. Somehow this doesn't seem racial to me. No lynching, no threats. Taking him to the boonies? He had them drive to the boonies but he had no out of gas car there.
The best I can say about Lonnie Johnson's death is that he will never kill again. I can also assure you that his accounts of those killings, making it a racial event, the senario he told on the internet, etc. does not hold up to police evidence. He had to get to Austin, had to have a vehicle, and had commmited robbery other than those 2 boys. He was also high on dope at the time.