Norfolk man sentenced to 25 years for killing stranger who knocked on wrong door — Prison fence. Grid fence with barbed wire against sunset. Barbed wire. Security measures for prisoners in prison.

NORFOLK, VA — A Norfolk man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for fatally shooting a 38-year-old man who mistakenly knocked on his front door in the Ocean View neighborhood last year, the Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office announced Thursday.

Leroy Frank King, 74, was convicted by a jury on April 1 of second-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of murder in the June 20, 2023 killing of Albert Patrick Johnson.

According to evidence presented at trial, Johnson knocked on King’s door by mistake earlier in the day. When he returned around 5:30 p.m. and knocked a second time, King emerged from his apartment in the 2900 block of Pleasant Avenue, shouted at Johnson, and shot him twice in the neck and torso. Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene. King was arrested shortly afterward.

King denied guilt during his July 11 sentencing hearing, maintaining that he was justified in the shooting—despite acknowledging that Johnson never physically engaged with him. Judge Tasha D. Scott sentenced King to 25 years in prison and suspended an additional 20 years, conditional on good behavior and future supervision.

King had a prior conviction in Lynchburg in 2003 for shooting another neighbor in a separate incident.

Prosecutors said King “had no right to shoot the victim,” and emphasized that his failure to recognize his wrongdoing demonstrated ongoing risk to public safety.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.