LANCASTER – The man accused of robbing and killing a computer store owner and the woman accused of driving the getaway car both appeared in court Tuesday for a scheduled arraignment hearing.
But neither Timothy Johnson nor Jinea Ingram entered a plea Tuesday.
Instead, the case was postponed until June 4 for arraignment and plea. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Steven Ogden said the preliminary hearing is supposed to take place within 10 court days of June 4.
However, Ogden said, given the nature of the case, the preliminary hearing will likely be postponed as well.
“I will anticipate it will be some time after that date,” Judge Ogden said.
Johnson, 23, is facing one count of murder, two counts of armed robbery, and one count of torture, while Ingram, 24, is facing one count of murder and two counts of armed robbery. Both are special circumstances cases, according to court records.
Authorities allege that around 4 p.m. on Friday, March 23, 2012, Johnson entered the e-Chaps Computer Store on the corner of Avenue K and 20th Street West with the intent to rob the business.
Johnson is accused of shooting store owner Reed Keith multiple times before making off with several electronic devices and Keith’s wallet. The items were later recovered from Johnson’s mother’s home.
Authorities believe Johnson’s girlfriend, Jinea Ingram, drove the getaway car.
Johnson was arrested on March 24 in South Los Angeles after an extensive manhunt. Ingram was arrested on March 27.
At Tuesday’s court hearing, Johnson was represented by Deputy Public Defender Robert Wilder, and Ingram was represented by Alternate Public Defender Patti Choi. Both attorneys were given transcripts of the case so far with the admonishment to retain the transcripts in their file. Johnson and Ingram are being tried together, according to the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office.
Judge Ogden also terminated an unrelated Petty Theft charge against Ingram. Ingram and Johnson were ordered to appear in court on Monday, June 4 for arraignment and plea and then remanded back into custody without bail.
Several of Johnson’s family members were in the courtroom, but said they had been advised not to make any comments to the media at this time.
Read previous related stories:
Alleged getaway driver arrested in Friday’s robbery murder
Candlelight vigil Wednesday to remember Reed Keith
Gunman ID’d in computer store robbery, killing
Man shot dead in computer store robbery; gunman still at large
Ruth "Keith" Herr says
i agree..!!! as i was his ex-wife..
Ruth "Keith" Herr says
To All That This Concerns,
I Have Known Reed Keith Since I Was 15 Going On 16 Years Old. He Was My First True Love and Father Of My First Child and Step- Father Of my Second Child Might as well say Father as he gave him his Last Name.
Reed Was A Wonderful Man, Kind, Loving,and Would Do anything For Someone if they needed him or needed anything he would give the shirt off his back if needed.
There does need to be a speedy trial and the justice system does need to put the death penalty on the table!This Man Did Not deserve to murdered like an Animal!{my First Love}i am still crying over this and it hurts to the core!! As i know his Wife Helen and Casey are Hurting then and now.. its hard on them and now me.
Nicole Dawson, you don’t know what reed would have wanted as you didn’t know him personally. when someone would have been killed in our time together he would say give them the death penalty!! so don’t presume you would know what reed would have wanted!!.
In Closing,Reed Was Loved By Many and Still Loved.You never lose the love for your fist Love and ex-Husband, Although i have found my second love and husband, the love is still there.There needs to be justice and i want the Death Penalty for the both of them!! They Took My Ex-husbands Life, a Father,And husband of Helen, and a Friend to many.Yes, i am Anguished,Hurt, Torn up inside,But reed didn’t have a chance, so Why should these two murderer’s have a chance for life, they took a life. its says in the bible eye for an eye, well, Death for a Death.. they should have the same as what he did to my love Reed! No it Won’t bring Reed Back!But it will give comfort in knowing Timothy Johnson or Jinea Ingram can’t do this to anyone else!!
Well, enough said,Reed My Love Rest In Peace We Love You Your Son Robert,Daughter Casey,son Daryl and I also,Helen{Wife of Reed Keith}.You Will be Deeply Missed. I Love You!R.I.P.Reed.
Palmdale_Steve says
We still have the Death penalty in CA, at least for now, and murder committed during a robbery calls certainly is what the Death penalty is on the books for. I hope the DA goes makes this case stick and goes for the Death penalty at least for the shooter.
The girlfriend, Life without parole would be good enough.
J says
Hang them both in the town square! Death penalty in this state takes too long.
Abdul Majeed Askia says
When someone loses a love one there is a lot of pain,hurt,anger,
and all sorts of mixed emotions and I respect that! I would imagine
the disapointment of a mother or parents in generl watching
their son’s and daughters getting caught up in crime,and the rage
the victims feel ablout the loss of their love one. These passions
are to be respected.
Palmdale_Steve says
Justice as defined in our laws.
A fair and speedy trial.
A fair and speedy execution of justice according to the laws of our state.
I could care less about the families of these so called human beings. Society in general will be better off without them, and hopefully they have no progeny.
Yo Mama says
What??? “Caught up” in crime. Are you for real? Caught up. Remind me, please, never to go to this numbscull’s speaches. I won’t be able to stop heckling this fool. Is this the best you homeys have? Keep searchin.
Abdul Majeed Askia says
I am a motivational speaker.I love to encourage people,to take charge of their lives,their emotions,fear,drives,passions and strive to be the best
human that they can be!The odd thing is so many people are filled
with hate,anger,frustration,bitterness,rage,hostility and all the negatives
that fuel the enviornment. Hate produces hate.Violence produces
violence.Our petty prejudices and dislikes create controversy and fuel
for the fire.I am deeply sadden how we as a society only comes together
when there is a tragedy!
Name calling and highlighting negativity does not solve problems. We
need to dialogue to save our youth,our communities and our love one’s
from possible harm and unnecessary violence.We are in the habit of
responding after the fact! That does not bring the lost of a love
back.I for one is deeply sadden for all parties on both sides because
it is such a terrible lost of life and future for who evr done it and
a tragedy for those who lost a love one.
J says
Your “motivational” posts suck A$$ !
Nicole Dawson says
Why so mean? What’s wrong with a little positivity. The Reed Keith murder has affected all of us in many different ways. Abdul is right, hate and negativity won’t bring Reed back. A little positive energy can’t hurt either.
Palmdale_Steve says
Nor can application of justice according to the laws of our state, including putting to death this excuse for a human being who committed this crime.
Nicole Dawson says
No one should be put to death intentionally. Two wrongs don’t make a right. I am in no way defending Johnson, but the death penalty is usually given to people who plan it out to kill someone, like premeditated. I think his was botched robbery. Don’t get me wrong, he should be off the streets for a very long time, but he should not be put to death. It won’t bring Reed Keith back and I don’t think that is what Reed would have wanted.
Palmdale_Steve says
“No one should be put to death intentionally.”
Wrong. The death penalty is the law in California, and commission of murder during a robbery is clearly stated as a capital crime deserving of the death penalty.
I don’t want to pay my tax dollars to lock Timothy Johnson for life, I want him to pay for his taking of a life with his life.
G says
@ Nicole…you think he should be off the streets for a very long time? Are you serious? He killed someone! He took a loaded gun with him. What do you think he planned on doing with it? People like this have no regard for others. I don’t believe he feels bad and I think he would do it again if given the chance, and that’s why I believe in the death penalty.
Nicole Dawson says
@G and Palmdale Steve
I understand that you are enraged at how Johnson callously took away the life of Reed Keith, but what is putting him to death going to solve? Then he gets an easy way out. At least in prison he will have to think about it for the rest of his life. Also, what if he was suffering from a mental illness or something. I am in no way making excuses for Johnson, I’m just saying lets see how it plays out at trial before putting the death penalty over his head. He is still innocent until proven guilty like everyone else. I personally don’t believe in intentionally killing anyone or anything. That’s why I don’t hunt for sport, or wear animals on my back.
North County says
@ Nicole;
Abdul is right that hate and negativity won’t bring Mr. Keith back; Ironically it was those 2 very same elements that took Mr. Keith’s life in the first place; But to light a candle for the shooter is totally asinine. Read your posts again. It leaves one with the impression that you’re one step away from organizing a support rally for Johnson; To claim that maybe Johnson suffers from a mental illness is laughable. A more accurate diagnosis would be a “mentality” illness; The man (and I use the term ‘man’ very loosely) shot and killed Mr. Keith in COLD blood. A violent, senseless and cowardly act. And for what? A few laptops and some chump change from the register? Johnson already had plenty of time to “think” about his crimes when he was in prison BEFORE he was released and decided to go out and rob and kill. (again…) Nicole, no offense, but you sound like some tree hugging hippy who only sees rainbows and sunshine. As far as second chances go, Johnson already got more than his fair share of chances and time to “think” about his crimes.
Even if he is sentenced to death he will more than likely spend the rest of his life in prison, because the process of capital punishment in California moves about as quick as the line at the DMV. As far as your weak “CSI” theories about botched robbery and no premeditation – NEWSFLASH: Johnson’s criminal resume by itself is enough to show premeditation and I don’t believe for one second that he didn’t walk into that store that day with no plans of assassinating WHOEVER was inside. While Johnson will now be granted “3 hots and a cot” for the next 40+ years on the taxpayers dime (assuming he doesn’t get euthanized by his fellow inmates first) the family and friends of Mr. Keith will also spend the rest of their lives thinking about the crime Johnson committed.
I somehow doubt Johnson will be losing any sleep over it. I can’t say that putting Johnson to death is what Mr. Keith would of wanted, but I’m sure what Reed didn’t want was for some institutionalized thug to kill him in cold blood in his own shop. Reed probably just wanted to finish up his day’s work, head home to his family and call it a night. Johnson took all of that away from him and his family when he walked in and took Mr. Keith’s life. And for that, Johnson should be put to death.
Abdul Majeed Askia says
I lost an eighteen year old son last april. My mother was robbed,shot and hit in the mouth with the butt of a shot gun.
An older brother was gunned down at a very young age.In the inner
city of la over the last several decades relatives children
were subjected to violence. Friend, I know pain. I know
what it means to lose a love one. I know how it feels when
those that you hold near and dear to your heart is harmed by
senseless violence!I know what it means and how it feels
to have a host of mixed emotions,rage,anger,pain and the urge
for vengence. Thus my friend I am not speaking in a
vacuum or just mere conversation! Almost every tragedy is
personal with me. I feel the pain and my empathy goes out
to those who have to go through such pain.
Again,name calling and/or acting out in a negative way only
adds fuel to the flames. Since I know the pain I want
to take steps to teach,educate,guide and in some way invite
people out of negative behavior.
Yo Mama says
Then stop makin excuses for some low life POS with no respect for life just because he’s a negro like yourself. How bout that Super Genious? No respect. Not for Mr. Reed, or himself, or you, or me. Justice would’ve been much more swift for that POS if I had a thing to do with it. Why, you ask? Cuz, “I’m your huckleberry!” “That’s just my game…”
That’s called “consequenses for your actions”, Super Genious. They both need to die. Period. Who’s first?
Yo Mama says
And, because this thing won’t let me answer this numbscull, Nicoal…. You’re a class A idiot. “Let the trial play out,” this one says. I’m sure Mr. Reed would’ve loved to see his day play out! Maybe the rest of his natural life? But, what do I know?
Congrats, Nicoal. You just earned your “I really don’t get it” sticker! Nice work!