Salt Lake man charged with murder in violent home invasion robbery

Salt Lake man charged with murder in violent home invasion robbery

(Salt Lake County Jail)


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SALT LAKE CITY — Criminal charges were filed Friday against a Salt Lake man accused of shooting and killing an 18-year-old man during a violent home invasion robbery.

Landon Kavani Johnson, 20, was charged in 3rd District Court with murder, aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary, first-degree felonies; and obstructing justice, a second-degree felony.

On Sept. 17, Salt Lake police were called to the Sky Harbor Apartments, 221 N. Sun Harbor Terrace, on a report of a shooting. The body of Eric Padilla was found in a bedroom.

Prior to the shooting, police say Padilla and two others were in the bedroom playing video games when there was a knock at the door. Padilla did not live at the apartment. One of the other men opened the door, and "a male wearing a bandana over his face and carrying a duffel bag entered the apartment," charging documents state.

The intruder, Johnson, grabbed the man who had opened the door by the neck and pointed a large silver revolver at him, the charges state.

"The male stated, "Give me everything you got,'" according to court documents.

As the men went into the bedroom, Johnson saw Padilla sitting on the floor next to the door and shot him once in the head, killing him, the charges state. He then allegedly took a package containing marijuana and about $500 in cash and left.

While Johnson was in the house, "the bandana kept falling" off his face, the other witness told prosecutors. That man recognized the alleged gunman as "Landon."

Homicide detectives said they used surveillance video from the apartment complex to identify Johnson. When he was interviewed by police, Johnson said he had purchased marijuana from the apartment in the past but denied shooting Padilla, according to the charges.

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Pat Reavy

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