The Antelope Valley Times

Your community. Your issues. Your news.

Man pleads not guilty in Lancaster clerk’s killing

by •

[Main image] The fatal shooting happened Feb. 19, 2018. at the VP Fuels and Drive Thru Dairy convenience store at 44419 Division Street in Lancaster. [Inset:] Defendant Deonta Darrell Johnson Jr., victim John Ruh.
LANCASTER – A Lancaster man pleaded not guilty Thursday to killing a convenience store clerk last year during a robbery.

Deonta Darrell Johnson Jr. — also known as “Fat Boy” — is charged in the Feb. 19, 2018, shooting death of John Ruh.

Ruh, a 61-year-old former Marine, was working at the VP Fuels and Drive Thru Dairy convenience store at 44419 Division Street when he was slain inside in the business.

Ruh suffered multiple gunshot wounds, according to the coroner’s office.

The murder charge includes the special circumstance allegation of murder during the commission of a robbery, along with allegations that Johnson personally and intentionally discharged a handgun and that the crime was committed for the benefit of a criminal street gang.

Prosecutors will decide later if they will seek the death penalty against the 22-year-old defendant, who is being held without bail.

Johnson allegedly walked into the convenience store with a 16-year-old male accomplice, approached the clerk, pulled out a gun, demanded money and then shot the clerk three times after Ruh closed the cash register, according to prosecutors.

The teenager allegedly with Johnson was charged with one count each of murder and attempted robbery in juvenile court, but the status of his case was not immediately clear.

Johnson is due back in a Lancaster court next month for a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to allow the case against him to move forward to trial.

Previous related stories:

Man charged with capital murder in clerk’s killing

Second suspect in Lancaster cashier killing turns himself in

Teen arrested, “person of interest” sought in Lancaster cashier killing

Reward increased to $30K to find killers of Lancaster cashier

Reward offered for suspects in robbery, fatal shooting in Lancaster

Cashier shot, killed during robbery in Lancaster 

–

 

6 comments for "Man pleads not guilty in Lancaster clerk’s killing"

  1. People should understand the elevated risk connected with American convenience stores. These stores are the deviants playground. The moment you step on the property your chance of being confronted, accosted, assaulted, jumped, mugged, shot, carjacked, stabbed, raped, kidnapped or murdered simply explodes!

  2. And now he says not guilty of course hes guilty he pulled the trigger and killed this hard working man. He should rot in jail that way he won’t come back in kill another hard working person . He is a KILLER AND THIEF.

    • Here’s the non-story about how a not guilty plea is entered at the arraignment (where no plea other than not guilty is EVER entered because that’s how the process works) with the usual outcries about the plea from people who have no clue how our justice system works.

  3. As Lancaster residents, we should do our part and turn this killer(s) in or if we know something let it be known… make our families safe, if not, one day it may come back to hurt us!!!….