A simple mistake turned deadly when a man knocked on the wrong apartment door — and now a 74-year-old Virginia man is headed to prison, likely for the rest of his life.
Leroy Frank King was sentenced to 45 years for the fatal shooting of 38-year-old Albert Patrick Johnson, who had mistakenly approached King’s Norfolk apartment thinking it belonged to a friend. The judge suspended 20 years of the sentence, leaving King to serve 25 years behind bars, followed by three years of probation — a term that will likely extend beyond his natural life.
The tragic encounter happened just after 5:30 p.m. on June 20, 2023, when Johnson returned a second time to King’s door, apparently still believing it was his friend’s residence. Prosecutors say King, instead of clarifying or calling for help, grabbed a firearm, stepped outside, and shot Johnson in the neck and torso.
Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to prosecutors, this wasn’t King’s first time turning a gun on a neighbor. In 2003, he was convicted in a separate shooting incident that, while nonfatal, showed a disturbing pattern of violence.
In April, a jury found King guilty of second-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. At sentencing, King showed no remorse — instead insisting that he was “legally entitled” to shoot Johnson, even though the victim posed no threat and had simply knocked on the wrong door.
“Mr. King had no right to shoot the victim,” said Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. “He absolutely should have known better. The fact that Mr. King does not see that he committed a crime means he still poses a danger to the public.”
Johnson’s death struck a heartbreaking blow to his family and community. According to loved ones, Albert had faced many challenges in life, including a disability caused by injuries he suffered as a teen, but he never let that stop him. He dreamed of becoming a famous rapper and was known for his “larger-than-life personality” and infectious spirit.
“Albert was strong and triumphant, overcoming many adversities in his life,” his obituary read. “He will be remembered for the heart he shared, the laughter he brought, and the joy he spread to all who knew him.”
A missed doorbell. A mistaken knock. A life cut short — and a family left grieving a senseless loss.
Maybe he would get some sense while he is away for the rest of his life.He would have time to repent