Atlantic County man gets life sentence for murder of juvenile; what prompted the killing?

MAYS LANDING – A Pleasantville man has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of a 17-year-old male in Atlantic City.Lewis Johnson, 35, was convicted in December of fatally shooting the youth, identified only as C.W., at the victim’s home in June 2020.Johnson allegedly went to the house to help confront the youth’s parents after a physical fight one night earlier between the victim and the daughter of Johnson’s girlfriend.

Chase ends in victim's fatal shooting

Authorities said Johnson, who had driven from Easton, Pa., pursued the youth to the second-floor porch of the home on the 2000 block of Blaine Avenue.He pistol-whipped the juvenile, then fatally shot him, the prosecutor’s office said.Johnson was arrested the next day. The murder weapon was found beneath his bed.

A jury convicted Johnson of murder and weapons offenses after a week-long trial in December.

The prosecutor’s office noted it successfully requested an extended prison term based on Johnson’s lengthy criminal record.

The life sentence is equivalent to 75 years in state prison, the prosecutor’s office said.

Johnson would have to serve 85 percent of his term, or more than 63 years, before parole eligibility.

Jim Walsh is a senior reporter for the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal. Email: Jwalsh@cpsj.com.

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Lewis Johnson sentenced to life for killing teen in Atlantic City