Jury Convicts Man of Shooting, Killing Man Who Mistakenly Knocked on His Door in Ocean View in 2023

NORFOLK, Va. — A jury convicted Leroy Frank King, 74, on Wednesday of second-degree murder and using a firearm in the commission of murder after the evidence showed that Mr. King shot and killed 38-year-old Albert Patrick Johnson in 2023.

Around 5:30 p.m. on June 20, 2023, Mr. King fatally shot Mr. Johnson after Mr. Johnson had mistakenly knocked on Mr. King’s apartment door in the 2900 block of Pleasant Avenue. Mr. Johnson had mistakenly knocked on Mr. King’s door earlier that day, as Mr. Johnson was intending to visit with Mr. King’s next-door neighbor. The second time Mr. King heard Mr. Johnson knock on his door, however, he shouted at Mr. Johnson for standing outside his apartment again, he came outside armed with a handgun, and he shot Mr. Johnson twice in his neck and torso. Mr. Johnson was pronounced dead by medics at the scene, and Norfolk Police arrested Mr. King after he came out of his apartment a short time later.

On Tuesday, Mr. King pleaded not guilty to his charges of second-degree murder and using a firearm in the commission of murder, and he opted to be tried by a jury. After hearing the evidence, the jury convicted Mr. King as charged. Judge Tasha D. Scott, who presided over Mr. King’s trial, set his sentencing hearing on July 11.

Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Scott C. Vachris and Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Daniel G. Engel are prosecuting Mr. King’s case, and Norfolk Police Detectives John W. Murphy III and Tyler K. Frear led the investigation.

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