A New York City man who fatally stabbed his younger sister in front of their mother has been sentenced to prison.
Rodney Johnson, 29, received a 25-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to second-degree murder in the killing of his 20-year-old sister, Shayla Johnson, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office announced in an Oct. 31 press release.
Prosecutors said that on the morning of July 19, 2023, Rodney followed Shayla into the bathroom of their East Harlem apartment and repeatedly stabbed her as she was getting ready to take a shower.
Shayla called out for her mother and ran into her bedroom. Rodney followed her there, tackled her to the floor, and continued stabbing her, according to the release. Their mother, who was in the room at the time, called 911 and tried to intervene.
Rodney eventually stopped when he realized Shayla was unresponsive and then left the apartment. He was arrested minutes later by police outside the building.
First responders found Shayla inside the home with multiple stab wounds to her chest, neck, face, head, hands and back, the release stated. She was transported to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead. A bloody knife was recovered from the scene.
Prosecutors noted that the siblings had an “ongoing conflict” related to Rodney’s “alleged acts of violence.”
“No family should ever have to experience this type of horrific and traumatic conduct,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg Jr. said in the release. “I sincerely hope that Shayla Johnson’s family and loved ones can heal and recover from this devastating tragedy.”
