Following an extensive review, our office has concluded that a 66-year-old victim acted in lawful self-defense and was justified in his use of deadly force against 32-year-old Johnie Hunter on July 31, 2021. Our review determined that Hunter threatened to kill the victim while holding a knife and attacked the victim twice. When Hunter tried to attack the victim a third time, the victim responded by stabbing Hunter once in the chest.
In reaching this conclusion, our office conducted an exhaustive review of all available evidence and applicable legal standards. These steps included but were not limited to:
- responding to the scene following the stabbing
- reviewing interviews of witnesses
- examining physical evidence, including DNA evidence
- reviewing video evidence
- reviewing photographic evidence
- reviewing 911 calls
- analyzing autopsy results
- applying the applicable laws
Tampa Police Department conducted the investigation, and a representative from the State Attorney’s Office responded to the scene. Investigators found that on July 31, 2021, the victim was sitting on a half-height wall near the HART bus stop in the area of North Marion Street and East Tyler Street, which is a location the victim frequented. While there, Hunter walked up to the victim, pulled out a knife, and put the knife to the victim’s cheek while threatening to kill the victim. A short time later, Hunter punched the victim with his left hand while holding a knife in his right hand.
When Hunter returned and tried to hit the victim again, the victim could not see Hunter’s other hand, so the victim responded by standing up and stabbing Hunter in the chest.
During the investigation of this case, law enforcement found video footage that depicts Hunter attacking someone else approximately an hour before this incident. Also, other witnesses corroborated the fact that Hunter was combative with the victim and with others in the hours before his death.
During the investigation of this case, the victim provided a detailed account of what occurred. Furthermore, the victim told the police where to find the knife he used to stab Hunter. The police found the knife, collected it, and submitted it to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). The knife had blood on it, and FDLE determined that the blood on the knife matched the DNA profile for Hunter. The victim was unarmed when Hunter attacked him the first two times, but Hunter was armed during both earlier encounters with the victim.
The Hillsborough Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the manner of death to be a homicide, and it was determined that the cause of death was a stab wound to the chest with perforation of lung and penetration of aorta. Hunter’s toxicology report indicates he had in his system Methamphetamine and Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
The name of the victim is being withheld due to Marsy’s Law.
After our thorough analysis, we have determined that the facts and evidence of this incident prove that the victim reasonably believed he was in fear of imminent death or great bodily harm when he used deadly force. These findings satisfy Florida Statute 776.012. Accordingly, under Florida law, there is no legal basis for criminal charges against the victim.
An initial release of materials related to this case is available at this link. These items illustrate the crime scene and key details of the case. Further documents related to the case, including additional photos, reports, and interview transcripts, are available to any member of the public subject to Florida’s Public Records Law; find details on making a request on the State Attorney’s Office Public Records page.