The Crusader Newspaper Group

Man charged for stabbing death of Crusader employee

Crusader staff report

The Crusader newspaper staff remains in shock after stabbing death of one of its employees.

Carlos Johnson, a beloved employee of the Gary Crusader was killed during an argument on Tuesday, March 26 in Gary. Days later, an elderly man was charged with murder and voluntary manslaughter in connection with Johnson’s death.

According to an affidavit, Lake County Police say Edward Miller, 76, on Tuesday, March 26, stabbed Carlos Johnson with a kitchen knife after a heated argument that the two had in an apartment at 100 W 11th Ave. in Gary. Police arrived on the scene after responding to an emergency call about a stabbing.

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Inside the building, police found a man trying to treat Johnson as he lay badly wounded in the hallway outside the apartment where the incident allegedly occurred. They also discovered a trail of blood leading to an apartment where the incident allegedly took place. Miller told police that the apartment was being rented by his nephew, Robert Blight, according to the affidavit. Several officers went inside Blight’s apartment and found a large amount of blood by the door. They also found a bloody brown handle kitchen knife in the sink.

Miller told police that the apartment was being rented by his nephew, Robert Blight, according to the affidavit. Several officers went inside Blight’s apartment and found a large amount of blood by the door. They also found a bloody brown handle kitchen knife in the sink.

Blight told police that he wasn’t in his apartment during the incident. He said he was downstairs in the building and rushed up to his unit after someone told him what happened. Blight told police he didn’t know why the fatal confrontation happened. Blight also said that Johnson did not live in the building and was unaware that Johnson was in his apartment.

According to the affidavit, Miller told police that he and Johnson were arguing Tuesday evening, hours after Johnson arrived at the apartment at noon. Miller said both of them had been drinking.

Miller told police that he is a retired drag queen and Johnson was calling him derogatory names. As the argument, heated, Miller said Johnson grabbed a knife and also said he should get his gun. Miller said Johnson made “stabbing motions” at him. Miller said he grabbed a butcher knife and stabbed Johnson one time in the arm. Johnson was later taken to the emergency room at Methodist Hospital North Lake campus, where he died at 7:47 p.m., March 26. The affidavit did not say whether Miller suffered any injuries.

Police said Miller’s version of events were inconsistent with the wounds Johnson sustained during the fight. Miller said he stabbed Johnson one time, but the affidavit said Johnson had “cuts to his left forearm, right triceps, right shoulder blade and left neck areas.”

When one police asked Miller why he did not leave when Johnson allegedly threatened him, Miller said he feared that Johnson would stab him in the back.

According to the affidavit, Miller was questioned several times about the incident. He was read his rights several times before he was charged with murder and voluntary manslaughter, a level two felony.

Police learned that Miller had an active warrant for his arrest in Clark County, Indiana. Tarrena Parks, the manager of the apartment building where the incident took place, told police that Miller was once a tenant there, but moved out after being served with a 14-day eviction notice. According to the affidavit, Parks said Miller had been involved in another stabbing last year, but no details were given.

Johnson, who was a Gary native and graduate of West Side High School, was a former employee of Central Paints prior to joining the Gary Crusader. Johnson had worked for the Gary Crusader in the circulation department. Funeral arrangements are pending.

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