LANCASTER – A teenage boy has been arrested and charged, and a “person of interest” has been identified in connection with the fatal shooting of Marine Corps veteran John Ruh during a robbery at the Lancaster gas station-convenience store he worked, authorities said.
Johnson is described as black, about 5 feet 11 inches tall and 220 pounds. He has brown eyes and black hair, a tattoo on his neck and frequents the East Lancaster and Los Angeles areas. [View the LASD bulletin here.]
No details were immediately available on the teenage suspect’s arrest and what led to his capture.
The robbery-murder occurred around 8:30 a.m. Monday, Feb. 19, at a gas station-convenience store in the 44400 block of Division Street in Lancaster, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Ruh, 61, of Lancaster was working a cashier shift when the business was robbed by two male suspects, one of whom shot him in the chest before both fled on foot, sheriff’s officials said.
Two reward offers totaling $30,000 were offered in March for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of the suspects responsible for the killing. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors offered $20,000 and the city of Lancaster added another $10,000.
“This has left our family totally devastated …,” Ruh’s girlfriend Michelle Brace said at the time the rewards were offered. “He was a good man, and all we want is for him to have justice.”
Ruh’s sister, Teresa Vail, said “nobody deserved to die the way he did.”
Anyone with information about this case or Deonta Darrell Johnson’s whereabouts is encouraged to call Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau Detectives Steve Blagg or Scott Lawler at 323-890-5500.
Anonymous tips can be submitted through Crime Stoppers by calling 800-222-TIPS or sending an email to lacrimestoppers.org.
Previous related stories:
Reward increased to $30K to find killers of Lancaster cashier
Reward offered for suspects in robbery, fatal shooting in Lancaster
Cashier shot, killed during robbery in Lancaster
–
J. says
Amen to that WGB ♥
DAVID LOPZ says
I BET HE CAN BE FOUND IN SOUTH LOS ANGELES WHERE THEY ALL COME FROM. THEY NEED TO CUT OFF THE FREE MONEY TO ALL OF THEM SCUM BAGS THAT WANT WELFARE MONEY, AND SIT AROUND SMOKING WEED ALL DAY. CALIFORNIA NEEDS TO WAKE UP REAL FAST.
Robert says
Most likely the punk is a welfare sperm donor creation. Hopefully the slime murderer is found………soon.
Fiona says
These low life’s were itching for money of course they would turn them in. They should all suffer the consequences they probably all new it the whole time
Kimberly K. says
Hmmm….I wonder if this Deonta Darrell Johnson thug is the one involved in the robberies at the store on 35th E in Palmdale. That thug was “guesstimated” to be about 6′ tall weighing around 200 lbs. Onetime an 83 year old female happened to be an innocent bystander and was assaulted by the evil gun wielding lowlife robber. SMH
Mark Johnson says
I love how you use the word t h u g. It’s almost as if you use it interchangeably with the n word.
John says
If the shoe fits..
Mg says
How can it say arrested and at the end of the article say they need the public help to locate the suspect ???
??? says
Did you read the article?
Laughing says
…and a “person of interest” has been identified in connection with…
…Detectives would like to speak with 21-year-old Deonta Darrell Johnson “about this investigation and are asking (for) the public’s assistance to locate him,”
Two different people, teenager (not named due to age) was arrested. Deonta is the second person.
Comprehension is needed says
wasn’t this explained to you on FB? Geeze, reading comprehension goes a long way!
Alexis says
@Mg…Make sure you read the article a few times, otherwise all the perfect people will jump all over you.
David Davis says
The teen that got arrested told a friend who called to collect the reward money and under interrogation he told on his accomplise who is now a person of interest.
WGB says
May justice prevail for the Ruh Family as our Almighty Heavenly Father Jehovah promises in 1 King 8:32 “May you then hear from the heavens and act and judge your servants by pronouncing the wicked one guilty and bringing what he did on his own head, and by pronouncing the righteous one innocent and rewarding him according to his own righteousness.”