Missing teen found dead Posted On: Friday, Nov. 20 2009 05:26 AM By Victor O'Brien
Killeen Daily Herald

Two teens and a juvenile face charges they murdered a 16-year-old Killeen boy who had been missing since Nov. 11.

Killeen police recovered the body of James Leroy Johnson III, 16, Thursday off Farm-to-Market 1237, north of Temple, according to a department news release.

One of the murder suspects, Paul Andrew Cantu, 18, of Waco, guided police to the body around 2 a.m., according to an arrest affidavit.

Cantu confessed that he, Victor Villarreal Jr., 17, of Fort Hood, and a 16-year-old juvenile beat and strangled Johnson to death in Killeen on Nov. 11.

The murder may have stemmed from a run-in Johnson had with a gang earlier this year. Several gang members connected with Shoemaker High School – where he was a ninth-grader – began harassing Johnson, who was not in a gang, family members said Monday.

Family members said the last call on Johnson's cell phone came from one of the gang members named "Paul."

Johnson was last seen sleeping by his mother just before she left for work around 7:30 a.m. Nov. 11.

When his mother returned around 8:30 p.m., Johnson was gone from their home at 3206 Palmtree Drive. Johnson was home from school because of Veterans Day.

During the day, the three suspects picked up Johnson and brought him to a Killeen home where they beat him with their fists, the affidavit stated.

Then Cantu went into another room and grabbed a rope. Cantu then strangled Johnson to death with the rope, the affidavit stated.

Justice of the Peace Garland Potvin arraigned Villarreal and Cantu on one charge each of murder Thursday. He set bond at $1 million each.

Cantu and Villarreal were taken to Bell County Jail Thursday. The juvenile, whose identity was not released, was taken to the Bell County Detention Center.

Friends and family gathered outside Johnson's house Thursday to comfort the family. On Monday, family and friends described Johnson – whom they called "Boo" – as a loving teenager who reveled in playing video games, chatting for long hours with girls and spending time with his friends.

Contact Victor O'Brien at vobrien@kdhnews.com or (254) 501-7468.