Fayetteville, North Carolina – A 23-year-old man, Christian Jared Ashworth, was arrested on Thursday for the May killing of 17-year-old Dakota Lee Johnson in Cumberland County, according to court records. Ashworth, who was out on bail for multiple June robberies, is facing charges of first-degree murder, robbery with a dangerous weapon, and conspiracy in connection with Johnson’s death.
According to the arrest warrant, Ashworth conspired with two others in the killing and also stole a handgun and cell phone from the victim. The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office reported that Johnson was shot late at night on May 18 in the 2300 block of Indian Creek Drive. He managed to drive a vehicle about a mile before crashing into a parked car outside a convenience store on Sapona Road and was later pronounced dead at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center early the following morning.
In addition to the May killing, Ashworth was also arrested in July for the robbery of two Waffle Houses and a Circle K in the county and city, which occurred on June 23 and June 28. Despite being out on bail, the magistrate noted that Ashworth was considered “an extreme danger to the public” and set a secured bail. However, in November, a judge reduced his bail from $450,000 to $75,000 and ordered Ashworth to be on GPS monitoring as a condition of release.
Following his recent arrest for Johnson’s killing, Ashworth is now being held in the Cumberland County jail without bail. This development raises questions about the previous decision to reduce his bail and release him from custody. It also highlights the challenges in balancing public safety and individual rights within the criminal justice system.
The case underscores the importance of considering the potential risk posed by a defendant when setting bail or conditions of release, especially when facing serious charges. The tragic loss of a young life has raised concerns about the effectiveness of the current bail system and the need for comprehensive evaluation of individual circumstances in such cases. The decision to release Ashworth on bail despite previous criminal activities has implications for the safety and well-being of the community, prompting a closer examination of the factors and considerations involved in setting bail amounts and conditions of release.