Man Sentenced to 25 Years Following Jury Conviction for Shooting, Killing Man Who Mistakenly Knocked on Door in Ocean View in 2023

NORFOLK, Va. — Leroy Frank King, 74, was sentenced to serve 25 years in prison for shooting and killing 38-year-old Albert Patrick Johnson, who had knocked on Mr. King’s front door by mistake, in 2023.

Around 5:30 p.m. on June 20, 2023, after Mr. Johnson had mistakenly knocked on Mr. King’s door earlier that day, Mr. King fatally shot Mr. Johnson when Mr. Johnson knocked a second time. Mr. King was inside his apartment in the 2900 block of Pleasant Avenue at the time, he shouted at Mr. Johnson for standing outside his door, he came outside armed with a handgun, and he shot Mr. Johnson twice in his neck and torso. Mr. Johnson was pronounced dead by medics at the scene, and Norfolk Police arrested Mr. King after he came out of his apartment a short time later.

Mr. King pleaded not guilty to his charges of second-degree murder and using a firearm in the commission of murder, and he opted to be tried by a jury. On April 1, 2025, after hearing the evidence, the jury convicted Mr. King as charged.

Mr. King was previously convicted in the City of Lynchburg in 2003 of nonfatally shooting a different neighbor.

At his sentencing hearing on July 11, Mr. King continued to deny his guilt, claiming incorrectly that he was legally entitled to shoot the victim even after admitting that Mr. Johnson had never come into contact with him on the day of the incident. Judge Tasha D. Scott, who presided over Mr. King’s trial, sentenced Mr. King to serve 25 years in prison and suspended another 20 years on the conditions that Mr. King complete 20 years of uniform good behavior and three years of supervised probation should he be released from prison.

“Mr. King had no right to shoot the victim, and, both at his age and with his prior conduct, he absolutely should have known better,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. “I extend my condolences to Mr. Johnson’s family for losing their loved one in such a senseless way. He did nothing wrong. The fact that Mr. King does not see that he committed a crime means that Mr. King poses a continuing danger to the public and that his sentence fits his crime. My prosecutors and I will continue to focus our resources on prosecuting the individuals who kill in our city.”

Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Scott C. Vachris and Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Daniel G. Engel prosecuted the trial of Mr. King’s case prior to Mr. Vachris’s retirement. Mr. Engel prosecuted Mr. King’s sentencing hearing, and Norfolk Police Detectives John W. Murphy III and Tyler K. Frear led the investigation.

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April 2, 2025

Jury Convicts Man of Shooting, Killing Man Who Mistakenly Knocked on His Door in Ocean View in 2023

NORFOLK, Va. — A jury convicted Leroy Frank King, 74, on Wednesday of second-degree murder and using a firearm in the commission of murder after the evidence showed that Mr. King shot and killed 38-year-old Albert Patrick Johnson in 2023.

Around 5:30 p.m. on June 20, 2023, Mr. King fatally shot Mr. Johnson after Mr. Johnson had mistakenly knocked on Mr. King’s apartment door in the 2900 block of Pleasant Avenue. Mr. Johnson had mistakenly knocked on Mr. King’s door earlier that day, as Mr. Johnson was intending to visit with Mr. King’s next-door neighbor. The second time Mr. King heard Mr. Johnson knock on his door, however, he shouted at Mr. Johnson for standing outside his apartment again, he came outside armed with a handgun, and he shot Mr. Johnson twice in his neck and torso. Mr. Johnson was pronounced dead by medics at the scene, and Norfolk Police arrested Mr. King after he came out of his apartment a short time later.

On Tuesday, Mr. King pleaded not guilty to his charges of second-degree murder and using a firearm in the commission of murder, and he opted to be tried by a jury. After hearing the evidence, the jury convicted Mr. King as charged. Judge Tasha D. Scott, who presided over Mr. King’s trial, set his sentencing hearing on July 11.

Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Scott C. Vachris and Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Daniel G. Engel are prosecuting Mr. King’s case, and Norfolk Police Detectives John W. Murphy III and Tyler K. Frear led the investigation.

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