Oak Harbor resident Brian Rayford “carried out a hit against a 17-year-old child” because his friend was upset over the cost of an impound fee, according to a report by a detective with the Island County Sheriff’s Office.
Rayford, two other young adults and a juvenile are facing murder charges in the death of John “Jay” Johnson.
The teenager passed away at Harborview Medical Center Friday as a result of the gunshot wound to the head. Johnson — a blond-haired, handsome teenager — went to school in Oak Harbor and had a network of friends and family in the community.
Detectives arrested three suspects Friday on suspicion of first-degree murder. The fourth suspect, 16-year-old Derek Reeder, was arrested based on information from the other suspects.
In a telephonic hearing this afternoon, the judge found probable cause to hold all four suspects on suspicion of first-degree murder. The judge ordered Rayford, 20, and David Nunez, Jr., 19, to be held without bail. Kitana Hernandez, 19, and Reeder were ordered held on $500,000 bail each.
Early in the morning of Nov. 11, a friend of the Johnson family called 911 after finding the young man unconscious and bleeding at his home on West Green Valley Road on North Whidbey.
Johnson was taken to the hospital, where doctors discovered he had a gunshot wound to the head. Detective Ed Wallace was called in to investigate. Johnson was airlifted to Harborview, but never regained consciousness.
Wallace searched Johnson’s home but did not find a gun. Johnson’s 15-year-old girlfriend contacted detectives and explained that she had been video chatting with him just prior to the shooting on the night of Nov. 10. They were interrupted by a knock at the door.
According to Wallace’s report, the case quickly came together later in the day after another young woman — who was with the suspects just before and after the shooting — provided crucial evidence, even though she was afraid for her life.
The report indicates that Nunez was upset with Johnson over an impound fee. Johnson had borrowed his car and it was impounded by the Washington State Patrol.
Rayford, Nunez and Reeder hatched a plan to either beat or shoot Johnson, Wallace wrote. Reeder kept asking Rayford to let him “do it” but Rayford kept possession of the gun, the report indicates.
After his arrest, Rayford admitted to shooting Johnson.
Wallace’s report indicates that Hernandez drove Rayford, Reeder and Nunez to Johnson’s house; Rayford and Reeder walked up to the house together. After speaking with Johnson briefly at the front door, Rayford pulled a .22-caliber handgun “out of the pocket of his hoodie, pointed the gun at Johnson, closed his eyes, turned his head and pulled the trigger,” Wallace wrote.
Rayford didn’t see where he shot Johnson because he and Reeder ran back to the car, the report states.
Nunez and Hernandez later threw the gun into the water, Wallace wrote.
In an interview with the detective, Reeder allegedly admitted that he was in the car on the night of the shooting but claimed that Rayford went to the house alone, came back and said “it’s done.”
Wallace wrote that Nunez sanctioned the “hit” and poses a threat to witnesses because he demanded in texts that they remain silent and referred to them as “loose ends,” the report states.
Prosecutors have until 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday to file charges. If charged with murder, Reeder, a minor, will be charged as an adult in Island County Superior Court, according to Island County Prosecutor Greg Banks.
