A 31-year-old man has been found guilty of killing two people at a luxury apartment building in downtown Cleveland in 2016.
James Antonio Johnson was found guilty of aggravated murder by a jury of his peers on Jan. 20, according to the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office.
Nearly two years ago to the day, Johnson shot and killed Rasheed Bandy, 35, and Brandon James, 27, after he barged into a unit at The Archer apartment complex, 1220 West 9th Street, on Jan. 21, 2016.
Authorities said four people were in the apartment at the time of the shooting. After Johnson forced his way in, he robbed everyone inside and then opened fire, killing Bandy and James. The other two people in the apartment were not hurt.
After the shooting, Johnson fled from Cleveland but was captured later that year when he was found in Muskegon, Michigan in September 2016.
He was extradited back to Ohio and charged with aggravated murder, murder, felonious assault, aggravated robbery, kidnapping, tampering with evidence and having weapons under disability (prior felon illegally possessing a firearm).
According to court records, Johnson has a previous history of aggravated robbery and kidnapping dating back to 2007. In 2008 he was convicted of conspiracy to commit robbery.
Jurors are scheduled to reconvene next week for the death penalty phase in Johnson's case.
