Suspect charged with 3 killings
The lone suspect charged with killing three Michigan teenagers in a river ambush shooting planned to use the victims as bait to lure emergency responders to kill them as well, according to a criminal complaint.
Scott J. Johnson, 38, of Kingsford, Mich., had thought about committing a random shooting for four or five years and prepared by stashing weapons in the woods, prosecutors say.
“His plan was to shoot anyone who showed up to help,” Marinette County Dist. Atty. Brent DeBord said.
Johnson decided to execute his plan last week after suspecting that a woman he had sexually assaulted would tell police, the complaint said.
Johnson went to the Menominee River in northern Wisconsin on July 31 and opened fire on about eight swimmers, killing three and injuring one, prosecutors say.
He is charged with three counts of first-degree intentional homicide, which carries a maximum of life in prison.
Wisconsin authorities are handling the case because the shots were fired from that side of the river.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
