Arrest possibly connected to murder of Fernandina Beach veteran

Vigil held Tuesday night to remember Johnell Richo

FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. – A 67-year-old Army veteran was found murdered early Monday morning in the yard of a home at 12th and Gum streets in Fernandina Beach, police said.

Police said residents reported gunfire just after 6:30 a.m., and arriving officers found the man's body. The victim was later identified as Johnell Richo, who lived at the home where his body was found.

The community came together Tuesday night at New Jerusalem House of God for a vigil to remember Richo.

"This was a very well-known individual, who very likely had nothing to do with any kind of issue or feud of any kind," Police Chief James Hurley said. "He was obviously a victim in the truest since of the word."

Investigators were looking into a possible connection to an armed robbery reported overnight a few blocks away. An arrest was made in that robbery Monday afternoon, police said.

John Patrick Wilson, 52, has been charged with attempted second-degree murder and armed robbery. Wilson and his wife claimed to be visiting with his mother and stepfather, Robbie and Johnell Richo, at their Gum Street home for the Shrimp Festival weekend.

According to witnesses, Wilson approached two victims, Larry Javon Roberts and Jerrald Jevon Owens, as they sat on a porch on South 12th Street at 3 a.m. Sunday. Wilson reportedly pointed a .22-caliber rifle at the victims and demanded money, before firing at least one shot.

Roberts struggled with Wilson for control of the rifle and two more shots were fired, police said. Roberts was able to hold Wilson until law enforcement arrived.

Wilson was taken to Baptist Nassau and then flown to UF Health in Jacksonville, because authorities believed that he had been shot in the head during the struggle. 

Wilson refused to talk with law enforcement and was able to walk out of the hospital after being discharged just a couple of hours after being admitted. The wound to his head was not caused by a gunshot and was not life-threatening or even considered very serious, police said.

"At this point, we’re working a number of theories. We’re interested in an incident that occurred more than 24 hours ago in the proximity of this location. So we’re trying to connect those two incidents and see if there is something to be learned there," Hurley said. 

Hurley said that hours later, shots were heard at Richo's home and someone was seen running in the street just after the gunfire. Police were using K-9 teams to look for two people who might have some connection to the homicide.

"We had reports of a number of individuals running down the street near the shooting, so we are hopeful that we were able to track and discern what direction the offender traveled," he said.

Small-town veteran involved in community

Richo was very involved with his church, volunteering as an usher and participating in Bible studies, his loved ones said.

“I don’t know what happened. I don’t know what was going on, because this is a small town,” Richo's sister-in-law, Christine Wilson, said. “God is good. He’s going to find out whatever happened.”

VIDEO: Veteran shot to death in Fernandina Beach

Family, friends and neighbors of Richo have been gathered around the crime scene that has closed off a block in the center of town for most of the day. 

“It’s crazy, because this is a small town, everyone knows everyone,” family friend Tez-Mia Gray said. “We never have crime here. The family’s been here for years, and whoever did it needs to come forward, because we don’t want this to start being a place where you have crime.”

One of the pastors at Richo's church, New Jerusalem House of God, has been working with his large extended family as they learn more about what happened.

“He was faithful. He was one that every time I would come to open up, he would be here, and he took that very seriously,” Rev. Ray Bartley said. “No matter what was going on, he would be here.”

Family members said Richo's wife was the first person to see the crime scene.

"It's just a sad case that you know this is happening. My auntie had to witness this, him laying there," Richo's niece Monica Simmons said. "Her conviction in the Lord and her belief and her strength is driven on Him. And she says God got me. She said, 'I am strong through Him. And through him, I am everything.'"

VIDEO: Family, friends of murder victim speak

His family said they're doing everything they can to remain strong and keep Richo's wife even stronger.

"She's doing pretty good. She was laughing with me and hugging me like she always did. Nothing has changed," said Richo's niece Johnnetha Brownlee. 

Pastor Ruby Baker said though there are still unanswered questions, Richo's wife continues to put her concerns in the hands of the Lord.

"It's very hurtful and painful. But the joy of the Word is her strength. God and his strength is being made perfect in her witness," Baker said. "She is spiritually strong and that's what she's leaning on right now."

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is assisting in the case.

The last homicide in Fernandina Beach was in April 2007, when an elderly woman was murdered in her home.


About the Authors:

Scott is a multi-Emmy Award Winning Anchor and Reporter, who also hosts the “Going Ringside With The Local Station” Podcast. Scott has been a journalist for 25 years, covering stories including six presidential elections, multiple space shuttle launches and dozens of high-profile murder trials.