Police: Crime spree between Carson City, Carson Valley and Lake Tahoe led to chase, shooting
More details have come to light surrounding the officer involved shooting of an armed robbery suspect near South Lake Tahoe on Monday.
There were three warrants for the arrest of Billy Jo Johnson on Monday, one each from South Lake Tahoe, Douglas County and Carson City. Law enforcement from the agencies were working together on their cases in an attempt to locate and arrest the 34-year-old Johnson.
He was a suspect in the Oct. 18 armed robbery of a Pioneer Trail store in South Lake Tahoe, an October 21 vehicle theft in South Lake Tahoe, the October 22 armed robbery of a Carson City yogurt shop and home invasion/burglary in Douglas County on September 21. From that date to October 21, Douglas County Sheriff's Office had received four reports of threats made by Johnson.
Detectives from the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) had a lead on Johnson's whereabouts on Monday and were headed to Markleeville to arrest him when they spotted Johnson on his motorcycle going in the opposite direction near Luther Pass on SR89.
They made a U-turn and pursed Johnson who then started shooting at the detectives. The high speed chase reached an estimated 90 mph with SLTPD avoiding the gunshots. Officers did not respond with gunfire until the end at the intersection of North Upper Truckee Road and Highway 50 when Johnson was shot and died of his injuries. By then multiple agencies had been involved.
Johnson was well known to SLTPD with case files going back about 18 years. He was currently residing in South Lake Tahoe though he'd also been in Gardnerville, Nevada where his driver's license was issued.
The names of the two SLTPD officers involved in the shooting have not been released at this time. They are on paid administrative leave which is protocol in this type of situation.
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