The night before an Indiana man’s trial, the man and his family kidnapped and shot the relative of a witness set to testify, police said.
Jarod Johnson, 22, was scheduled to go to trial Monday in Lake Superior Court on an attempted murder charge related to a 2017 shooting in Gary, The Chicago Tribune reported. Johnson is accused of shooting a man and his pregnant girlfriend, resulting in the man's death.
The man’s girlfriend, who survived the shooting, was scheduled to testify against Johnson on Monday. But the trial has been postponed, because Johnson, his brother and his mother are accused of kidnapping and shooting one of the witness’ family members.
According to an affidavit from Gary police, Johnson, Jaron Johnson, 20, and Patricia M. Carrington, 46, abducted the victim late Sunday as she walked home from work, driving up alongside her in a van and forcing her in. The victim told police Carrington then put black socks over her eyes and duct taped her hands behind her.
As they were driving, “Jarod told her that if he went to prison he would ‘kill all you’ and his kids were not going to be without a father,” according to the affidavit.
Jarod Johnson then demanded to know the address of the victim in the 2017 case, the affidavit said. The woman refused to tell him, and was dragged from the van and beaten, according to the affidavit.
Jarod Johnson said, "Give me the address, or I'm going to do to you what I did to (the previous shooting victim)," the affidavit said.
When the victim refused to cooperate, Carrington shot her in the face, according to the affidavit.
The victim fell to the ground, then heard Jarod Johnson say, "Ma, she ain't dead," the affidavit said. Carrington then shot the victim several more times, per the affidavit.
The victim survived the shooting, police said. She told police she heard Jarod Johnson, Jaron Johnson and Carrington run away. She managed to free her hands and remove the socks from her eyes, police said. The victim saw houses nearby, and ran there to get help, police said.
Jarod Johnson, Jaron Johnson and Carrington were each charged Tuesday with felony attempted murder, two counts of kidnapping, three counts of battery and intimidation, The Times of Northwest Indiana reported. Carrington and Jarod Johnson are being held without bail. Jaron Johnson's bail was set at $150,000.
Not guilty pleas were entered on their behalf in a Wednesday court hearing.
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