From Redemption to Alleged Murder: Sheldon Johnson

A murder investigation has shaken the Bronx community, with a criminal justice advocate now facing charges following the discovery of dismembered remains inside an apartment. Witnesses and law enforcement officials revealed that the suspected killer was captured on surveillance footage wearing a blond wig at the crime scene.

Sheldon Johnson, aged 48 and employed at the public law firm Queens Defenders, was escorted from the 44th Precinct stationhouse in handcuffs on Thursday after authorities uncovered the disturbing evidence. Among the findings were a human torso found in a blue bin and a head concealed within a freezer inside the sixth-floor apartment, as disclosed by the police.

Johnson was subsequently remanded without bail following his arraignment on Thursday night. Accounts from neighbors suggest that prior to the tragic events, the victim was overheard pleading desperately with their assailant moments before gunshots reverberated through the apartment near Ogden Avenue and West 162nd Street shortly after 8 p.m. on Tuesday, according to sources and residents.

Heart-wrenching phrases such as “Please don’t” and “I have a family!”

were reportedly heard during the confrontation. Law enforcement became involved after receiving reports of gunfire and witnessing unfamiliar activity, including a stranger frequently entering and exiting the premises with cleaning materials, as recounted by the building superintendent.

Disturbing surveillance footage, obtained by The Post, captures Johnson cautiously entering the building and proceeding to the apartment on Tuesday. Concealed beneath a dark coat and yellow hoodie, he is depicted carrying a mop and a bag filled with cleaning supplies, according to insider sources.

The superintendent, speaking on condition of anonymity, recounted his decision to request a welfare check on a tenant due to the suspicious activity observed. Johnson’s actions, including the transportation of a blue bin into the apartment in the early hours, raised significant concerns, especially when it was never seen being removed from the premises.

The superintendent recalled the peculiar sight of Johnson bringing in the bin at such a late hour, remarking,

‘Why is he bringing in the bin at 2 o’clock in the morning? He’s bringing in a bin so late.’ Despite efforts to confirm its removal, the bin remained untouched. ‘We tried to see if he took out the bin. He never took out the bin. I told them, ‘Look for a bin.’ And sure enough, it was there.’

Additionally, the superintendent witnessed the suspect departing in the victim’s blue Audi and returning via an Uber while donning a blond wig. Expressing disbelief, he remarked, ‘You are assuming this guy has a professional career — went to work, came back, walked the dog and continued with his personal life.’

Johnson embarked on his role as a client advocate at the public defender’s office in Queens post his release from prison in 2019, having served a 20-year sentence for a string of armed robberies dating back to 1999. Johnson, who asserted his past affiliation with the Bloods gang, recounted being apprehended and receiving a maximum sentence of 50 years for robbing individuals indebted to him for drugs at gunpoint.

During his incarceration, Johnson reflected on his choices, eventually deciding to ‘turn his life around,’ achieving his GED and participating in courses on deep breathing and conflict resolution.

As of now, the Queens Defenders office has not provided a comment regarding the situation.

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