DENVER — A 28-year-old man is being held on investigation of first-degree murder in the death of a teenage girl at a Walgreens in Colorado Springs.
The suspect and victim were coworkers at the store, where she had reported him to management in the past for making her feel uncomfortable, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.
At about 6:55 p.m. Saturday, police received a 911 call from a manager at the Walgreens at 6820 Centennial Blvd. stating that he had found a body in the store’s breakroom and that there was “blood everywhere,” according to the affidavit.
Joshua Johnson, 28, has been arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder. The victim has been identified as 17-year-old Riley Whitelaw of Colorado Springs. Whitelaw died at the scene.
About a year ago, Whitelaw had complained about Johnson to a store manager, saying that he made her feel uncomfortable and that “he had made advances toward her,” according to the affidavit. She had requested a work schedule to avoid Johnson, but their schedules crossed when Whitelaw requested more hours.
Before the attack, Johnson allegedly stacked boxes in front of a surveillance camera in the room to obstruct the camera’s view. Paper was taped over the windows of the breakroom, according to the affidavit, and a restroom closed sign was placed in the area.
A woman who was a customer in the store told investigators she heard a woman screaming and the sound of “stalls” slamming.
Johnson was later contacted by the Colorado State Patrol as he walked along Interstate 25 near Trinidad, according to the affidavit. He had scratches on his hands and face. He was arrested without incident and is being held at the El Paso County jail on investigation of first-degree murder.
Johnson told investigators that he was in the breakroom and that he “fell in the blood,” according to the affidavit. He was near a large trash bin at the store where an empty bottle of bleach was found. He told investigators he went home and washed blood off of his clothing after “that happened.”
Johnson denied stacking boxes in front of the surveillance camera, although there is footage of him doing it, according to the affidavit.
An investigation is ongoing.
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