North Springfield neighbors say they're relieved kids weren't caught in the crossfire of a deadly weekend shooting. Nineteen-year-old Anglish Johnson Jr. is charged with second degree murder and armed criminal action. Johnson is accused of killing 38-year-old Nathaniel Charleston Jr. around 4:00 p.m. Saturday.

Neighbors in the 1300 block of North Main say they're thankful witnesses weren't too scared to talk. According to court documents, witnesses told police two black males were arguing in the middle of the street. Witnesses say the injured man got into a silver SUV. They say the shooter ran southbound. They told police the man threw his white hooded sweatshirt on the ground.

Witnesses say a woman drove Charleston to Cox North Hospital. Police say they found Leitta F. Johnson and Charleston at the hospital. Charleston was transferred to Cox South where he later died. Police say Charleston’s girlfriend Leitta F. Johnson told them her cousin, Anglish Johnson Jr., shot her boyfriend.


"This was an ongoing dispute that culminated when they saw each other," Major Kevin Routh says. The dispute police call personal put the entire street in danger. Beverly Sullivan says her granddaughter Ilajah Mukes was riding her bike at the time of the shooting. "I was panicked I knew she was riding her bicycle," Sullivan says. "It was a blessing the kids were okay."

An even younger witness five-year-old Cameron Johnson was playing with Mukes. "To even imagine that someone would do this in broad daylight right there,” Cameron’s mother Anna Johnson says, “The anger set in because there were kids out there."

Other adults say they barely dodged the bullets. "It hit the north side of the house and went into my bedroom," Neighbor Sharon Maples says. "It could have hit me in my chair." Neighbors say they were scared but not scared silent. "As soon as everyone heard it they were outside,” Anna Johnson says, “I think that's why he turned himself in because everyone was out in the street." Major Routh says multiple people that don't know the suspect or victim make better witnesses because they don't have a personal interest or bias.

Police say Johnson turned himself in Sunday but say willing witnesses will help them prove he pulled the trigger Saturday afternoon. Neighbors say speaking up is the only way they are going to make their neighborhood safe again.

Johnson is being held on a $250,000 bond. According to court documents, once Johnson turned himself in he requested a lawyer and refused to talk about the shooting.