Man convicted of killing local nightclub owner sentenced to at least 28 years in prison

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — The second man charged in the 2021 killing of a local nightclub owner will spend the next 28 to 35.6 years in prison after pleading guilty to Second-Degree Murder and Attempted Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon.

Naulege Johnson, 25, appeared in New Hanover Superior Court on Thursday and admitted to participating in the crimes that took the life of 43-year-old Johnny Johnson.

Quajon Canty, the other man charged, pled guilty last week.

On November 7, 2021, shortly after 1:00 a.m., officers heard gunshots coming from an area on Chestnut Street near Water Street. They arrived less than one minute later and found Johnny Johnson suffering from multiple gunshot wounds near the entrance of an alleyway. While some officers tried to revive him, others raced into the alley to search for the suspects. Shortly thereafter, they found Naulege Johnson and Canty hiding together underneath a piece of plywood. Two firearms were ultimately located nearby.

Ballistics testing confirmed that the guns found were the guns fired during the incident. Gunshot residue testing and DNA evidence also linked both men to the murder. Johnny Johnson died at the scene.

Surveillance videos from downtown cameras and information obtained from cell phones found on the suspects provided additional evidence linking the men to the offenses.

The investigation revealed that Naulege Johnson and Canty had been planning to rob Johnny Johnson of valuable jewelry when he walked to his vehicle after his club closed for the night. While a broken bracelet was found in the alley, the suspects were unsuccessful in stealing the other items.