Lancaster man found guilty of killing computer store owner

A 25-year-old Lancaster man was convicted Aug. 1 of killing the owner of e-Chaps Computer store, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.

A jury found Timothy Jerod Johnson guilty of one count of first-degree murder and found true a special circumstance allegation that the killing was committed during a robbery.

According to Deputy Dist. Atty. Jonathan Chung, the jury also found Johnson, a 25-year-old black man, guilty of two counts of second degree robbery.

The deadly events unfolded on Mar. 23, 2012 at Reed Keith’s computer store in the 2000 block of West Avenue K in Lancaster. During the robbery, Johnson pointed a gun at Keith and a customer. The customer testified in court that after he was forced to put his face to the ground, he heard Johnson shoot Keith, according to the district attorney’s office.

The customer managed to escape. Johnson took money and computers and made his getaway in a vehicle driven by his then-girlfriend, 26-year-old Jinea Aarona Ingram.

Keith, a 59-year-old white man, was pronounced dead at the scene at 4:12 p.m, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

Johnson, who faces a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole, is expected back in court Sept. 19 for sentencing.

Ingram, who pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter on May 6, is due back in court on Aug. 14 for sentencing, according to the district attorney's office.

-- Maloy Moore and Caitlin Owens