AKRON, Ohio – Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh announced Tuesday that a Summit County jury found William Knight, 64, of Streetsboro, guilty of murder in the death of 24-year-old Keith Johnson.
Jurors found Knight guilty of two counts of murder, each with a gun specification, and two counts of felonious assault.
The March 17, 2017 shooting followed a dispute over a stolen dirt bike. Earlier that day, Knight’s son-in-law noticed his dirt bike, which had been stolen in February of 2016, was for sale on a social media site. Knight, his daughter and son-in-law went to Danmead Avenue in Akron to confront Keith Johnson and recover the dirt bike. When Johnson attempted to leave the area on the bike, the son-in law grabbed the dirt bike in an attempt to stop Johnson. Johnson was able to pull away from the son-in-law, but was subsequently shot in the head by Knight. The jury rejected arguments by William Knight’s attorney that Knight was acting in self-defense and defense of his family members.
Summit County Common Pleas Court Judge Tammy O’Brien is scheduled to sentence Knight on Monday April 23, 2018 at 9am. Knight faces a potential sentence of life in prison.
Photo courtesy of Summit County Prosecutor's Office