A white ISIS enthusiast and Muslim convert who killed a 13-year-old boy during his birthday sleepover party and injured two other people in Florida in 2018 has been sentenced to life in prison.
Corey Johnson, 21, was found guilty of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder in November 2020 for the killing of Jovanni Sierra Brand.
Johnson was 17 years old when he killed Jovanni and knifed Elaine Simon, 43, and her 13-year-old son, Dane Bancroft, at Jovanni's birthday sleepover, claiming that the victims had 'idolized celebrities and disrespected his Muslim faith.'
Corey Johnson, 21, was sentenced to life in prison on Thursday for the 2018 killing of Jovanni Sierra Brand, 13
Johnson, who considered Adolf Hitler, Josef Stalin and Kim Jong Un as his role models, was known for making disparaging remarks about Jews and homosexuals, expressing support for the KKK and was described by others as a white supremacist.
His defense tried to argue the violent attack had been sparked by Johnson's traumatic childhood and mental health issues.
Palm Beach County Judge Cheryl Caracuzzo sentenced Johnson to life in prison and said on Thursday she did not believe rehabilitation was likely for Johnson after he remained emotionless during the heartfelt testimony of Jovanni's mother.
The gruesome attack happened in March 2018, at the BallenIsles Country Club in Palm Beach Gardens, where Simon and Dane, one of Jovanni's friends, lived.
Johnson was at the sleepover because he was a friend of Dane's older brother, Kyle Bancroft. Before the tragedy, the boys had been to dinner to celebrate Jovanni's thirteenth birthday and had decided to spend the night at Simon's.
Johnson told police he read Quran on his phone to give him 'courage' to carry out the bloody stabbing spree during the sleepover.
Johnson was sentenced to life in prison on Thursday by Palm Beach County Judge Cheryl Caracuzzo
Jovanni Sierra Brand, was killed by Johnson in 2018 after he reportedly 'disrespected' Johnson's faith
The gruesome attack happened in March, 2018, at the BallenIsles Country Club in Palm Beach Gardens, where Elaine Simon, 43, and her 13-year-old son, Dane Bancroft - who were also knifed by Johnson - lived
During his statement in court Thursday, Johnson said he wanted to apologize to the victims for his radical and violent attack, adding that he couldn't begin to imagine the pain he had caused.
'I wish I could take it back, I wish I could do something to make this right,' Johnson said. 'I'd like to apologize not because it will change anything, but because I'm really truly sorry.'
His defense had attempted to argue insanity, citing that both his parents had also dealt with depression and that, as a child, he had witnessed the verbal and physical abuse his father perpetrated on his mother.
'The facts were clear that he knew right from wrong and he decided to do it anyway,' said prosecutor Richard Clausi.
Jovanni's mother, Karen Abreu, pleaded with Judge Caracuzzo to sentence Johnson to life in prison and with parents to protect their children.
'You are never prepared for such a tragedy...I will
