Earl Johnson pleaded guilty Tuesday to a charge of voluntary manslaughter while armed in connection with the stabbing death of 29-year-old Antoinette Mitchell.
Johnson, 40, was arrested on the day of the incident and charged with first-degree murder in the case.
According to the plea agreement, while inside Mitchell’s apartment in the early morning hours of August 22, 2012, Johnson got into an argument with one of Mitchell’s relatives. In defense of her family, Mitchell jumped in the argument and asked Johnson to leave, the documents say.
After a few more minutes of arguing, Johnson finally left the apartment, with Mitchell following close behind carrying a clothes iron. Johnson exited the apartment building, but walked no more than a few feet before turning around. As Mitchell stood in the doorway holding the iron, she told Johnson he could not come back into the building, the documents say.
Mitchell swung the iron and hit Johnson in the head; Johnson then pulled out a knife and stabbed her several times. Johnson fled the scene on foot; Mitchell later died at the hospital.
An autopsy found that Mitchell was stabbed three times: in her chest, right arm and left hand. Plea documents state that the stab wound to her chest was approximately four inches deep.
Johnson is scheduled to be sentenced before Judge Russell Canan June 21.
Plea documents have been added to this post.
