Criminal Justice Activist Arrested for Murder After Grisly Discovery in Bronx Apartment

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ICARO Media Group
Politics
07/03/2024 21h29

In a shocking turn of events, a criminal justice activist and former member of the Bloods gang, Sheldon Johnson, has been arrested and charged with murder after police discovered a dismembered body in a Bronx apartment. Witnesses and surveillance footage reportedly show Johnson at the scene of the crime wearing a blond wig.

The 48-year-old Johnson, who worked as a staff member for the public law firm Queens Defenders, was apprehended and led out of the 44th Precinct stationhouse on Thursday in handcuffs. He is now awaiting arraignment as police investigate the gruesome discovery.

Authorities found a human torso inside a blue bin and a head hidden in a freezer on the sixth floor of the apartment. The victim has been identified as 44-year-old Collin Small, a former fellow inmate with Johnson at Sing Sing prison in Westchester County. Sources suggest that a possible ongoing dispute between the two may have led to the heinous crime.

Neighbors recalled hearing the victim's desperate pleas shortly before gunshots rang out in the apartment near Odgen Avenue and West 162nd Street on Tuesday evening. Small was heard pleading, "Please don't. I have a family!"

The investigation began when neighbors reported a stranger frequently entering and leaving the apartment with cleaning supplies. Building superintendent, who requested not to be identified, notified the police for a wellness check. The superintendent observed Johnson carrying the blue bin into the apartment late at night and never bringing it back out.

Further suspicions arose when the suspect was seen leaving the victim's blue Audi but returning in an Uber, wearing a wig. The superintendent described Johnson's behavior as unusual, leading to concerns that he may be hiding something. Police initially checked the apartment but did not find any evidence incriminating Johnson. However, they returned and apprehended him for questioning before the planned meeting with the superintendent.

Residents of the building expressed shock over the disturbing turn of events. Neighbor Jose Marquez recalled seeing Johnson walking a small dog in the days leading up to the murder. Marquez described Johnson as a "quiet" and "loner" individual, noting that his appearance masked any suspicion of criminal activity.

Sheldon Johnson's apparent transformation from a convicted felon serving time for armed robberies to a well-known victims' advocate and criminal justice activist has drawn attention. In an interview on "The Joe Rogan Experience" podcast, Johnson, who claimed to have obtained his GED and taken courses on conflict resolution while in prison, discussed his past and his dedication to turning his life around.

The Queens Defenders office, where Johnson was employed, has not yet responded to requests for comment on the arrest.

As the investigation unfolds, Sheldon Johnson faces the grave charges of murder, leaving both the community and the criminal justice system grappling with the perplexing contradiction in his journey from reformation to alleged violence.

The views expressed in this article do not reflect the opinion of ICARO, or any of its affiliates.

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