Photo Courtesy of Google
On June 7, 2020, at approximately 6:30 a.m., Johnson’s wife, Tangerina Johnson, summoned him to a store near the intersection of 8th Street and Astoria Boulevard.
By Forum Staff
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Nathaniel Johnson was extradited to Queens from Boston where he was indicted by a grand jury and arraigned Tuesday on murder and other charges in the stabbing death of a 37-year-old man – and assault on the victim’s sister – after Johnson’s wife got into a verbal dispute with them in Astoria in June 2020.
Johnson, 57, of Long Island City, was arraigned on charges of murder in the second degree, attempted murder in the second degree, manslaughter in the first degree, assault in the second degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree. Supreme Court Justice Kenneth Holder ordered the defendant to return to court on July 12.
File Photo
“Ruthless. Coldblooded. Brutal. That is the only way to describe what is seen on the video and what the defendant is alleged to have done to the young father of five children,” DA Katz said.
According to the charges:
– On June 7, 2020, at approximately 6:30 a.m., Johnson’s wife, Tangerina Johnson, summoned him to a store near the intersection of 8th Street and Astoria Boulevard.
– Approximately 10 minutes before Johnson called her husband, she argued with Romeo Bartley, 37, and his sister Amalia Bartley, 34.
– When Nathaniel Johnson arrived, Ms. Bartley was in a bodega withdrawing money from an ATM and her brother stood nearby outside. Video surveillance footage shows Johnson approach the bodega brandishing a knife as his wife, pointed out Mr. Bartley.
– Johnson rushed forward and stabbed Mr. Bartley in the chest then punched and kicked the victim after he fell to the ground. When his sister left the ATM, Nathaniel Johnson punched her multiple times in the face then stabbed her twice in the back.
– Both victims were taken to the hospital for treatment. Mr. Bartley later died due to his injuries, which included puncture wounds to the heart and lung. Ms. Bartley was able to identify the defendant from an array of photos.
Tangerina Johnson was previously convicted by a jury of murder in the second degree, attempted murder in the second degree and criminal possession of a weapon and sentenced to 18 years to life in prison.
“Ruthless. Coldblooded. Brutal. That is the only way to describe what is seen on the video and what the defendant is alleged to have done to the young father of five children,” Katz said. “The defendant will now be held to account.”
If convicted, Johnson faces 50 years to life in prison.
