New Arrest in Principal Slaying

5th Suspect now in custody

There has been a fifth arrest in the slaying of Shaw Middle School principal Brian Betts. 

A warrant charging 19-year-old Joel Johnson with first-degree murder was issued May 6. He was picked up last night in the District and is awaiting extradition to Montgomery County, Md., D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier told News4.
 
Betts was killed last month in his home in Silver Spring. He met one of the suspects on a phone chat line, according to police. 
 
Three 18-year-olds -- Sharif Lancaster, Alante Saunders and Deontra Gray -- were arrested earlier this month and charged with murder. All three were under the supervision of the District’s Department of Youth and Rehabilitation Services and were living in group homes.
 
A mother of one of the suspects has also been charged with using at least one of Betts’ stolen credit cards.
 
Contact Us