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2nd ex-pfc. pleads guilty in Lejeune murders

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. — A second former Marine charged in the killings of two other leathernecks pleaded guilty Monday afternoon to two counts of second-degree murder.

Tharon Johnson’s admission to his role in last year’s deaths of Lance Cpls. Amanda Carrithers and Jordan Barrow, both 19, came hours after another former Marine pleaded guilty in the same Onslow County Superior Court to shooting them. All four were members of 2nd Marine Logistics Group’s 2nd Supply Battalion at the time.

Jondre Lowemincey was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences in prison without parole after pleading guilty to two counts of first-degree murder Monday morning.

Johnson, a private first class at the time of the shootings, was also charged with first-degree murder but, under the plea agreement discussed in court, the charges were reduced to second-degree murder and his sentence will last between 20 and 27 years.

Both men initially pleaded not guilty; the prosecution had sought the death penalty, assistant district attorney Ernie Lee said.

Lowemincey and Johnson told police they drove to the home Carrithers and Barrow shared off base on the night of Aug. 15, 2006, with a .22-caliber pistol. When Barrow opened the door, Lowemincey shot him three times before heading to Carrithers’ bedroom. He told investigators he kicked in her door and shot her.

The shootings occurred a few hours after Lowemincey and Carrithers met for dinner, where Carrithers told him the baby she was carrying was not his. She was about six weeks pregnant.

Lowemincey went after Carrithers because he said she was “disrespecting him,” Lee said.

Johnson told authorities he stood in the living room in shock after the shootings. He said he got back in the car with Lowemincey and they headed back to their barracks rooms at Camp Lejeune.

Johnson, wearing an orange jumpsuit, turned to the victims’ families and asked for forgiveness during the court proceedings Monday.

“I wasn’t best friends with Jordan or Amanda, but we did talk on a daily basis,” he said. “I’m sorry for the pain and suffering they had to go through.”

Julie Delice, then a corporal with the same unit, awaits trial for her alleged role in the murders. She has been charged with two counts of accessory after the fact of felony murder.

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Ex-pfc. gets life for killing 2 Marines