A Streetsboro man has been sentenced to life in prison after killing another man over a dirt bike.
William Knight, 64, shot and killed Keith Johnson, 24, in the evening of March 20, 2017, after accusing Johnson of stealing his son-in-law's dirt bike. He was charged with two counts of murder and two counts of felonious assault and found guilty on April 10, 2018.
Knight will be eligible for parole after serving 18 years of his sentence.
It all began when Knight's son-in-law noticed his dirt bike, which was stolen in February 2016, was for sale on a social media site, according to authorities. Knight, his daughter and his son-in-law all went to the address in Akron listed in the posting to confront Johnson and take the bike back.
Johnson attempted to ride away on the bike, and the son-in-law grabbed the bike in an attempt to stop him, according to reports. Authorities said Johnson was able to get away from the son-in-law, but Knight shot him in the head.
The Summit County prosecutor's office said the jury rejected arguments by Knight's attorney that Knight was acting in self-defense and defense of his family members.
