|
Receive the latest Shorthorn
updates in your e-mail inbox.
Enter your Email address below
STUDENTS
LOCAL
|
Crime
Murder suspect was ‘nice guy’
Friends are surprised Kyle Nathan Johnson is tied to the Samuel J.
Lea case.
The Shorthorn news editor
Kyle Nathan Johnson is spending his 21st birthday in jail today.
Johnson was arrested Friday and arraigned Monday on charges capital
murder of degreed undergraduate Samuel J. Lea, 28, who was found strangled
in his apartment Oct. 31.
Friends of Johnson said he has always been nice and that they are surprised
he is being charged.
Political science junior Ryan Stalmach has known Johnson since he grew
up down the street from him in Arlington. He and his family were shocked
when they read about Johnson’s arrest in the newspaper.
“He was a really nice guy,” he said. “I’m really
surprised. I never would have imagined he would have become homeless
and violent growing up.”
Stalmach said he hadn’t seen Johnson in a few of years but saw
his father every Sunday at the New World United Methodist Church in
Arlington, where Johnson’s father is an ordained minister. He
said he doesn’t understand why Johnson is homeless because his
father is involved with the church.
Johnson’s father, Gordon, declined to comment. Tracey Teeples,
who was listed as Johnson’s contact person on the affidavit, also
declined to comment.
Anna Leone, an English sophomore at Tarrant County College, said she
has known Johnson since second grade at Ellis Elementary. She said he
kept to himself but was always nice to her.
“I’d never heard of him getting into trouble,” she
said. “I’m concerned. It doesn’t sound like something
he’d do. I’m definitely surprised, and I’m going to
start praying for him.”
Arlington Police Detective Tommy Le Noir said Johnson, who has other
relatives in the Metroplex, has been homeless since June.
“Basically, he was at a stage in his life where he was just too
difficult,” he said. “He didn’t want to adhere to
others’ rules and regulations. People tried to help him in the
right direction, but you can do so much before you ask them to leave.”
Johnson was homeless by choice, Le Noir said. He said Johnson chose
to leave home and that he stayed with friends, people in the area and
at shelters. Johnson stayed at Lea’s apartment on several different
occasions since August but was asked to leave according to Lea’s
family and friends.
“He was more transient than homeless,” Le Noir said. “He
wasn’t sleeping under bridges or in parks. He just ran out of
people to live with. At the time of the offense, he no longer had anywhere
to stay.”
Le Noir would not comment on whether Johnson confessed to the murder
but did say he was cooperative.
Johnson has been arrested on three prior charges in Denton County, including
possession of marijuana.
If found guilty of capital murder, he could face the death penalty or
life in prison.
Correction
The article should have stated Ryan Stalmach and Kyle Johnson grew up in Grand Prairie.
|
Kyle Nathan Johnson |
