A Liberty County jury returned a guilty verdict on a man accused of a 2021 slaying, and he was sentenced to life without parole.

Jurors found Davonta Johnson guilty of malice murder and felony murder for the January 21, 2021, shooting death of Rosemary Michaels. Johnson was sentenced to life for the malice mu r d e r charge and his felony murder sentence was given 20 years to serve concurrently for highjacking a motor vehicle.

Johnson was indicted June 10, 2022.

According to reports, Johnson shot Michaels, then 56, outside of a convenience store at the corner of Gause Street and Memorial Drive. What police initially thought was a robbery gone awry turned out to be a case of stalking, according to reports at the time.

Officers went to the scene on an initial report of a carjacking. When they arrived, they found Michaels on the ground on the driver’s side of her vehicle. A video of the area showed Johnson approach Michaels and after an altercation, Johnson pulled out a gun and shot Michaels.

Johnson then went across the street and pulled a gun on a woman sitting in her Dodge Journey. He took her car, which was found in Claxton.

Johnson turned himself in the next day at the Justice Center with the help of a family friend and Sheriff Will Bowman, according to reports.

The trial was held March 31–April 2 in the Liberty County Justice Center. Johnson and his attorneys have filed a motion for a new trial.