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Nijay Johnson, 23 of Columbus, received a 30-year sentence after pleading guilty to a 2024 first-degree felony murder charge, Monday, Feb. 2.
In the early hours of Sept. 29, 2024, Johnson, 21 at the time, fired multiple shots at Keandre Hurd, 26 of Columbus, near an alley in the 1600 block of Fannin Street in Columbus, according to Columbus Police Department. Columbus PD responded to a call about a shooting and found Hurd with a gunshot wound to his neck. Hurd was transported to Columbus Community Hospital but later died from his injuries.
County prosecutor Dawson Townsend provided more details about the case. Columbus PD later learned that Hurd was driving a vehicle on Bonham Street with a passenger and that three people were walking in an alley behind 1538 Fannin Street.
“When the victim and the witness were driving in their car, the three people — one of which who was Nijay — saw the car,” Townsend said. “Nijay’s statement to police was he thought that the victim was going to be attempting to hurt him, so he fired a few shots in his direction. One of those struck Mr.Hurd in the neck and later killing him.”
Johnson surrendered himself to Columbus PD later that day. He was appointed a public defender, charged and had his bond set at $150,000. The Texas Penal Code Sec. 19.02 outlines that a murder charge can be filed when the defendant: intentionally or knowingly causes the death of an individual; intends to cause serious bodily injury or commits an act clearly dangerous to human life that causes the death of an individual; or commits or attempts to commit an act clearly dangerous to human life that causes the death of an individual while committing, attempting to commit or running away after committing a felony, other than manslaughter.
“There’s a history between [ Johnson and Hurd]. The details of said history was not exactly fully developed,” Townsend said. “But, I can disclose that the shot that killed Keandre was over 100 feet away from the victim. Whether or not [Johnson] knew whoever was in the car — the victim, we are not entirely sure.”
Johnson pled guilty to a charge of murder for a maximum sentence of 30 years that District Court Judge Jessica Crawford did set. In Texas, a first-degree felony charge can result in five to 99 years in prison along with fines up to $10,000. After sentencing, Johnson was remanded to the custody of the Colorado County Sheriff’s Office until the Texas Department of Criminal Justice picks him up to transport him to a prison.
