James Johnson was sentenced to death by the State of Alabama for the shooting of a clerk during a robbery
According to court documents James Johnson would rob a gas station and in the process would shoot and kill Mary Charlene “Sissy” Lawson
James Johnson would be arrested, convicted and sentenced to death
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Where Is James Johnson Now
James Johnson is incarcerated at Holman Prison
James Johnson Case
The State’s evidence tended to show that on August 5, 1995, Rodney Earley discovered Lawson’s body slumped behind the counter in the BP gasoline station on Old Highway 78 in Jasper-unconscious from gunshot wounds to her head. Earley testified that he telephoned the emergency 911 number and that Lawson died before the ambulance could arrive.
Ira Morris,1 Johnson’s codefendant, testified that several weeks before the robbery/murder he met with Johnson and discussed plans to rob and kill the attendant at the BP station in Jasper. The two agreed that Morris would be the lookout and that Johnson would commit the robbery/murder. On the designated day the two went to the BP station. Morris testified that Johnson approached the counter purportedly to purchase a drink, and he threw his crumpled money down so the clerk would have to pick it up. Lawson stooped to pick up the money; when she straightened, Johnson was pointing a .38 caliber revolver at her head. He demanded money. After Lawson gave him the money in the register Johnson shot at the clerk four times. Morris said that Morris wiped the door clean of fingerprints and left during the shooting. The two met the next day to split the $447 that had been taken in the robbery/murder. Morris testified that he refused to take any of the money because he felt remorse for what he had done.
There was also evidence presented indicating that Johnson confessed to two fellow inmates that he had committed the BP robbery/murder. There was also testimony that approximately two weeks before the robbery/murder Johnson had approached two children, had showed them a map of the area surrounding the BP station, had showed them a gun that he had hidden in his front yard, and had told them he was going to rob the BP station. The State also presented evidence indicating that Johnson, six months after the robbery/murder at the BP station, had robbed another attendant at a package store located one mile from the BP station.
https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/al-court-of-criminal-appeals/1096199.html
