2 men charged in murder of Diano Johnson
(FOX 2) - Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy has charged two men in connection to the murder of Diano Johnson, a gay man.
Anthony Brock, 28, and Darnell Wilson,30, were both charged with one count each of First Degree Murder, Felony Murder, Armed Robbery, Carjacking, Unlawful Imprisonment, Felon in Possession of a Forearm, and six counts Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony.
Brock was also charged with Arson, for allegedly setting Johnson's car on Fire.
On June 19th, Brock arranged to meet Johnson after the pair met on Facebook. It is alleged that Brock locked Johnson in the trunk of a car and then picked up Wilson. It is further alleged that the two men obtained a firearm and drove Johnson to an east-side location, where they dragged him from the car and shot him multiple times. The morning following, Brock allegedly set Johnson's car on fire, burning his legs in the process.
Detroit Police discovered Johnson's body on June 21st. The investigation that was conducted led to Brock being arrested on June 25th and Wilson being arrested on July 12th.
The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office assigned the case to Special Prosecutor Jamie Powell Horowitz of the Fair Michigan Justice Project (FMJP), which is a program that assists the Michigan law enforcement officers and prosecutors in solving serious crimes against lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender persons. This is the second FMJP case in three days.
On Thursday, prosecutors charged Demetris Nelson with the murder of one gay man and assault with the intent to murder another.
Fair Michigan President Alanna Maguire said, "When members of Detroit's LGBTQ community are targets of violence, the Fair Michigan Justice Project is ready to vigorously prosecute these cases. These horrifying allegations demonstrate the ongoing need for determined efforts to bring justice for all."