Indiana man charged with Michigan homicide, robbery, and weapons charges targeting members of the LGBTQ community

On March 2, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy, with the assistance of the Fair Michigan Justice Project (FMJP), charged Diabolique Paris Johnson, 34, of Indianapolis, IN, in connection with a homicide and an armed robbery. FMJP is a program that assists Michigan law enforcement officers and prosecutors in solving serious crimes against lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender persons.

On September 1, 2020, it is alleged that Johnson committed an armed robbery of a 26-year-old man, of Detroit, that occurred at a hotel located in the 24130 block of Michigan Avenue in Dearborn. It is alleged that the man had his personal property taken during the robbery. The defendant was not in custody when he was charged with one count of Armed Robbery on September 21, 2020.

On September 5, 2020, at a location in the 16800 block of Woodbine in Detroit, it is alleged that Johnson murdered a 39-year-old man, of Detroit, during an armed robbery. Prosecutors have charged Johnson with one count of First-Degree Felony Murder and one count of Felony Firearm.

It is alleged that the victims in both cases were targeted on online dating apps because they were members of the LGBTQ community. More specific facts and evidence in the case will be placed on the record in court at the preliminary examination.

From September 1, 2020, until December 4, 2020, police officers from Dearborn, Detroit, and Indianapolis conducted an investigation which led to Johnson’s arrest in Indianapolis. Defendant Johnson was extradited from Indiana and arrived in Michigan this afternoon. He was arraigned and remanded to jail Wednesday on the Dearborn Armed Robbery case in 18th District Court in Dearborn. The Probable Cause Conference is scheduled for March 12, and the Preliminary Examination is scheduled for March 19, . He is expected to be arraigned on March 4, after 10 a.m. in 36th District Court in Detroit.

In 2019, Attorney General Dana Nessel created a Hate Crimes Unit at her office to investigate and prosecute hate crimes that include victims targeted based on race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, and gender identity. As part of that initiative, Nessel has offered county prosecutors across the state assistance with their hate crimes prosecutions. This case represents the first joint undertaking between Nessel and Prosecutor Worthy in that effort.

“I’m proud to stand with Prosecutor Worthy and the Fair Michigan Justice Project to announce these charges today. It’s my hope that this case marks the beginning of a long partnership focused on providing justice to some of our most vulnerable communities,” Nessel said.

“It is my pleasure to announce that our recent agreement with Attorney General Dana Nessel that will allow us to receive assistance from her office on FMJP cases. I am also pleased to announce that veteran Wayne County Assistant Prosecutor LaDonna Logan will be working with FMJP to prosecute these important cases,” said Worthy.

Fair Michigan President Alanna Maguire said, “It is troubling that the perpetrator of these vicious acts apparently used online dating apps to locate and target his victims. Michigan’s LGBTQ communities know that the Fair Michigan Justice Project, along with Michigan’s county prosecutors and law enforcement officials, stand ready to aggressively investigate and prosecute these brutal crimes.”