March 24, 2022 | JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announces that Judge Sarah Jones has sentenced Jasper Johnson, 35, to 48 years in prison for the fatal shooting of his girlfriend Kia Johnson in their Joliet apartment on June 5, 2017. Johnson received 48 years for First Degree Murder (a Class M Felony) and 3 years each on the two counts of Unlawful Use of a Weapon by Felon (a Class 3 Felony), to be served concurrently.

The shooting occurred when Johnson, who claimed he was intoxicated, was playing with his revolver which was partially loaded. Despite having been told by the victim not to play with the gun, he manipulated the gun he knew to be loaded by spinning the cylinder, cocking the hammer, and pulling the trigger.  He fired the gun, striking the victim in the left side of the head. The victim subsequently died in the hospital as a result of the shooting.

“Jasper Johnson is a convicted felon who tried to absolve himself of responsibility for the death of his girlfriend by claiming he was just playing with the gun. Aiming a loaded gun at another human being and pulling the trigger is an act that can cause death or great bodily harm; that’s murder,” Glasgow said. “Nothing can bring Kia back to life, but Johnson will have decades in the ominous confines of a dismal prison cell to reflect on how his actions caused her death.”

Johnson will receive 1743 days of credit for time served.

Glasgow commended Assistant State’s Attorneys Deborah Mills, Britt Florin, and Marie Griffin, Nichole Pasteris, Director of Victim Witness Services, Gus Martinucci who provided technical support, and Joliet Police Detective Dave Jackson, for their commitment and perseverance in this case.