Man Charged In Wis. Lake Sniper Killings

(AP)  A Michigan man was charged Wednesday with the fatal shooting of three teens who were among a group ambushed while hanging out at a river on the Wisconsin border.

Scott J. Johnson, 38, of Kingsford, Mich., was charged with three counts of first-degree intentional homicide. Authorities say he went to the Menominee River on July 31 and opened fire on a group of swimmers, killing three and injuring one.

He faces live in prison without parole if convicted. Wisconsin does not have the death penalty.

His public defender, Len Kachinsky, said he plans meet with his client before a court hearing Thursday.

"I think people should maintain an open mind and withhold judgment until the evidence is in," Kachinsky said.

The public defender said he was not concerned that Johnson was held for nearly a week before charges were filed, as his client is unlikely to make whatever bail is set.

Teens from Johnson's neighborhood have said they saw him regularly at the East Kingsford Bridge, where he generally kept to himself. The bridge marks a popular swimming hold near the town of Niagara on the Menominee, which forms Wisconsin's border with Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

Johnson emerged from the woods wearing camouflage clothing and, without a word, fired shots from a military-type rifle, according to a criminal complaint.

All the shots were fired from the Wisconsin side of the river, according to Scott Celello, the undersheriff in Dickinson County, Mich.

Johnson shot and killed two teens at close range and a third on the Michigan bank about 80 yards away, investigators have said.

A fourth person, a 20-year-old man, was treated at the scene for a shrapnel wound.

"They were all fleeing the scene when they were struck," Celello said.

Johnson surrendered Friday after an all-night manhunt.

Marinette County District Attorney Brent DeBord is handling the case because the shots were fired from the Wisconsin side of the river. But charges also could be filed in Michigan because one of the three bodies was found on that state's side.

The Dickinson County district attorney, Christopher Ninomiya, did not immediately return a message Wednesday.

Authorities haven't speculated on a motive or said whether they suspect a link between the shooting and accusations that Johnson sexually assaulted a woman at the river the day before.

But Johnson's mother has said he may have "freaked" last week after he found out police wanted to speak to him, perhaps regarding the sexual assault allegations. Judy Johnson said he left the house unarmed about two hours before the shooting. She speculated that he had camouflage clothes and a weapon stashed somewhere.

Judy Johnson said her son was honorably discharged from the military in 1994 without serving overseas and has been unemployed. She described him as despondent since his wife left him in 2001 and took their children.

[usclimey]

This man is one reason i carry a .44 semi automatic with me at ALL TIMES EVEN TO YES, CHURCH!

Posted by tootall10142

"He recovered his hidden Armalite 7.62 mm military-type rifle and an ammunition box with .308 cartridges that he had stowed at least a year before."

I don''t think your .44 pop-gun would be much help against that given the fact those poor kids didn''t know he was there until it was too late.

Why does this conutry feel the need to allow people (let alone a psycho like this) to even have a 7.62 mm Armalite rifle?

[tootall10142]

This man is one reason i carry a .44 semi automatic with me at ALL TIMES EVEN TO YES, CHURCH!

[excoachken]

About time for the ,"Give everybody a gun" crowd to demand that all teenage swimmers wear a sidearm while try to enjoy a safe, fun day in the countryside. When will one of these stories rattle around in your head and wake you up to the fact that lots of victims would be alive if we only had reasonable controls on deadly weapons to keep them out of the hands of mutants like this!

[carlylaine]

I would like to know how many of the venomous remarks are from LiberalsConservatives-WOULD ANYONE CARE TO RESPOND-I''M CONDUCTING A SURVEY. The vitriolic comments show that there is no mercy no love with these vicious murdering statements. You guys who write these things...and I know you write all of the time because of your hatred wouldn''t allow you to be still...are as bad as the perpetrator.

[eezew70]

Sometimes we have to make a example out of folks who don''t need to be in our society! Put him in the woods and have some folks shoot at him so he can see how it feels! Maybe we should send him to mars with out a space suit!

[mahdeealoo]

PTSD - seems obvious that he was never treated after his discharge. I hope the military steps up for this one and helps this guy out. yes, what he did is deplorable but it may not have happened with proper treatment, if it was recommended and not given or followed through with...

[wineberry]

I think if there were such thing as a rocket trip to Mars where you buy a round-trip ticket, I''m afraid I''d be tempted to tear up my return to Earth ticket.

[wineberry]

In some other countries they don''t mess around with these killers, they just get rid of them by putting them to death. There''s none of this "if convicted" stuff. The scary thing is that many years ago this type thing would have been very shocking, but today it''s getting to be expected.