Man Accused Of Targeting LGBTQ Community In Wayne County: Worthy

DETROIT — Wayne County prosecutors announced Wednesday that they charged an Indiana man with robbery and weapons charges, accusing him of targeting members of the LGBTQ community in Dearborn and Detroit.

Diabolique Paris Johnson, 34, of Indianapolis, faces first-degree murder, felony firearm and armed robbery charges in connection with two investigations, prosecutors said.

Johnson is being extradited from Indiana and is expected to be arraigned Wednesday, prosecutors said.

“It is my pleasure to announce that our recent agreement with Attorney General Dana Nessel that will allow us to receive assistance from her office on FMJP cases," Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said. "I am also pleased to announce that veteran Wayne County Assistant Prosecutor LaDonna Logan will be working with FMJP to prosecute these important cases."

Worthy said her department was assisted in its investigation by the Fair Michigan Justice Project, which she said assists Michigan law enforcement officers and prosecutors in solving serious crimes against the LGBTQ community.

“It is troubling that the perpetrator of these vicious acts apparently used online dating apps to locate and target his victims," Fair Michigan President Alanna Maguire said. "Michigan’s LGBTQ communities know that the Fair Michigan Justice Project, along with Michigan’s county prosecutors and law enforcement officials, stand ready to aggressively investigate and prosecute these brutal crimes.”

Prosecutors said Johnson is accused of robbing a 26-year-old Detroit man in Dearborn on Sept. 1 while at a hotel in the 24130 block of Michigan Avenue. Prosecutors said they issued an arrest warrant for Johnson on Sept. 21, before he was in custody.

Johnson also is accused of killing a 39-year-old Detroit man during an armed robbery on Woodbine in Detroit on Sept. 5, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors believe Johnson targeted both victims on online dating apps because they were members of the LGBTQ. More information will be released in future court hearings, prosecutors said.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel created the Hate Crimes Unit at her office in 2019 to investigate and prosecute hate crimes that include victims targeted based on race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation and gender identity.

Nessel has offered county prosecutors across the state assistance with their hate crimes prosecutions, with this case being the first time Worthy and Nessel worked together on such an investigation.

“I’m proud to stand with Prosecutor Worthy and the Fair Michigan Justice Project to announce these charges today," Nessel said. "It’s my hope that this case marks the beginning of a long partnership focused on providing justice to some of our most vulnerable communities."