(WWJ) An Indianapolis, Indiana man has been charged in a Detroit slaying of a victim he met through an online dating app
According to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office, 34-year-old Diabolique Paris Johnson in two separate incidents is accused of intentionally targeting victims because they were members of the LGBTQ community.
On September 1, it' alleged that Johnson met up with and robbed a 26-year-old man Detroit man at a hotel in the 24130 block of Michigan Ave. in Dearborn. The defendant was not in custody when he was charged with one count of Armed Robbery on September 21, 2020.
On September 5, 2020, it's alleged that Johnson murdered a 39-year-old man at a location in the 16800 block of Woodbine in Detroit, during an armed robbery. In that case, prosecutors have charged Johnson with one count of First-Degree Felony Murder and one count of Felony Firearm.
Following an investigation spanning two states, Johnson was extradited from Indiana and arrived in Michigan on Tuesday. He was expected to be arraigned Wednesday in the robbery case in 18th District Court in Dearborn, before being moved to Detroit where he will be arraigned in the murder case in 36th District Court.
This case represents the first joint undertaking between Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel's new Hate Crimes Unit and Prosecutor Wayne County Worthy. The Fair Michigan Justice Project is also involved.
“It is troubling that the perpetrator of these vicious acts apparently used online dating apps to locate and target his victims," said Alanna Maguire, President of Fair Michigan. "Michigan’s LGBTQ communities know that the Fair Michigan Justice Project, along with Michigan’s county prosecutors and law enforcement officials, stand ready to aggressively investigate and prosecute these brutal crimes.”
The names of the victims are not being released at this time.