The criminal proceedings involving 28-year-old Earnest Lee Johnson, accused of a deadly shooting and a subsequent attempt to destroy evidence, concluded this past Friday. In March of 2021, Johnson was convicted on multiple charges related to the incident, which included malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, abduction, second-degree arson, and hiding another person’s death. The crimes were associated with the untimely death of 23-year-old Chanceler McCall.
On the evening of December 28, 2020, local police in DeKalb County were alerted to a shooting incident on Donnell Way in the unincorporated area of Decatur. Upon arriving at the scene, they discovered numerous bullet casings and an accumulation of blood on the roadway. Strikingly, there was no victim to be found at the site.
Investigators noted that it seemed as if an effort had been made to wash clean the spilled blood. Nearby, a garden hose was found lying conspicuously in a yard, with water still dripping from it. The DeKalb County Police Department (DKPD) also noticed two vehicles at the crime scene: a Kia Soul riddled with bullet holes and a Chrysler automobile.
Upon further investigation, additional details emerged, one being that a Pontiac G6 car, registered to Johnson, was parked along the street fronting the house close to the crime scene. Police collected the spent shell casings and blood samples to aid in the investigation. Disturbingly, nearby residents reported to police that they heard gunshots before seeing two individuals load a body into the back of an unidentifiable dark-colored vehicle, which then drove off.
Tragically, McCall’s mother reached out to the DKPD to report her son as missing two days following the shooting. Photos of McCall were subsequently disseminated by Crime Stoppers Greater Atlanta. McCall’s mother revealed to investigators that her son was last seen on the same day of the shooting, driving a maroon Dodge Challenger car.
She further informed investigators about a particular discord between her son and Johnson that had been happening for some time. In an effort to corroborate her suspicions and to identify the victim, a DNA sample was procured from McCall’s mother. The sample was found to be a match with the pooled blood at the crime scene, confirming the victim as her son.
On the following day, December 29, 2020, detectives discovered McCall’s car. It was found abandoned and scorched approximately one-and-a-half miles from the crime scene. However, the troubling findings did not stop there. Officials also reported that Johnson’s car was found ablaze on the same day behind a mall located in Conyers. A suspicious detail – potentially instrumental in linking the car to arson – was found in the form of an undeclared accelerant in the car’s front seat.
December 2021 marked the ominous discovery of McCall’s skeletal remains near a stretch of the interstate I-20, located in Morgan County. Johnson, facing the monumental weight of evidence, was arrested on March 10, 2021. As the investigative process continued, more damning revelations came to light.
Information obtained from Johnson’s online activities suggested he had searched for terms such as ‘self-defense definition’, ‘malice aforethought’, ‘manslaughter’, ‘homicide’, among other similar queries. The searches occurred expediently in the days leading up to the heinous crime, raising doubts about his premeditated intent.
The DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office has underscored the significance of this digital evidence, highlighting how it reveals Johnson’s possible knowledge and preparatory behavior ahead of the crime. His internet search history notably suggested he was conscious of the legal implications of his actions, as well as the potential charges he could face.
As the concluding phase of this ordeal awaits, a judge in DeKalb County is set to decide on Johnson’s imparted sentence in the coming weeks. It is anticipated that the culmination of evidence – from DNA and ballistic samples to the distinct digital traces left by the defendant – will guide the sentencing decision.
Unresolved questions surrounding McCall’s murder have cast a solemn cloud over DeKalb County, with community members seeking justice for the untimely and violent passing of the young man. The exhaustive investigative work carried out by the DKPD has been significant not just for the judicial process, but for those reeling from the loss.
As this case nears its legal conclusion, it serves as a stark reminder of the grim realities of crime, the importance of thorough investigation, and the lengths to which law enforcement professionals go to ensure justice is served. While the sentencing phase awaits, the memories of Chanceler McCall will forever be etched in the hearts of his family, friends, and the wider community.
Despite the dark cloud that this case has cast over the county, there remains hope that justice will be served, bringing closure to the victim’s family and delivering a clear message about the consequences of such heinous actions. Richardson’s upcoming sentencing symbolizes the final step in a tragic journey that has spanned over a year, one marred by loss, fear, and ultimately, the fight for justice.
In conclusion, the tragic case of Earnest Lee Johnson and Chanceler McCall underscores the power of persistent and deep investigation, the significance of digital evidence in the modern era, and the necessity of justice in helping a community heal. The ultimate disposition of Johnson’s sentencing will reflect not only the judiciary’s response to such gruesome acts but also the hopes of a community seeking closure from a nightmare that has held it in its grip for over a year.