NEW YORK, NY – A Manhattan man will spend 25 years to life in prison after pleading guilty to murdering his 20-year-old sister by repeatedly stabbing her in front of their mother in their family apartment.
Rodney Johnson, 29, was sentenced Friday after pleading guilty to one count of murder in the July 2023 death of his sister Shayla Johnson, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced.
The brutal attack occurred on the morning of July 23, 2023, at approximately 8:00 a.m. in the family’s NYCHA apartment, where all three family members lived together. Shayla Johnson was preparing to start her day by taking a shower when her brother followed her into the bathroom and began the deadly assault.
According to court documents, the victim screamed for her mother as she fled the bathroom and ran to her mother’s bedroom. Johnson pursued his sister, wrestled her to the ground, and continued attacking her with a knife while their mother was present in the room.
The mother immediately called 911 and attempted to intervene to save her daughter’s life. Johnson eventually stopped the attack, but Shayla had already become unresponsive, authorities said.
Johnson then fled the apartment before police arrived. Minutes after the 911 call, responding officers found the defendant standing outside the building and arrested him without incident.
Inside the apartment, officers discovered Shayla Johnson on the floor, bleeding from multiple stab wounds to her chest, neck, and back. She was transported to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead. The murder weapon, a knife, was recovered at the scene.
“Rodney Johnson viciously and repeatedly stabbed his own sister in a deadly act of violence in their home,” District Attorney Bragg said in a statement. “The defendant seized the opportunity to attack his sister at one of her most vulnerable moments and ultimately killed her in front of their mother. No family should ever have to experience this type of horrific and traumatic conduct.”
Bragg added, “I sincerely hope that Shayla Johnson’s family and loved ones can heal and recover from this devastating tragedy.”
Court documents revealed that the siblings had been arguing the day before the murder. According to prosecutors, the dispute stemmed from allegations that Rodney Johnson had previously committed acts of violence.
Johnson will be eligible for parole after serving 25 years of his sentence.
