Murder suspect flees just steps ahead of Houston police

Anthony Johnson Anthony Johnson Photo: HPD Photo: HPD Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Murder suspect flees just steps ahead of Houston police 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

A 22-year-old man wanted for capital murder barely escaped capture Wednesday as he bolted just steps ahead of police officers trying to arrest him in north Houston.

Anthony Johnson, also known as "Yolie," is accused in the slaying of 35-year-old Jawon Carson, according to the Houston Police Department.

Police said Carson's body was found Dec. 13 beneath a bridge in the 4500 block of Richey Road near E. Hardy Road about five days after he had been reported missing.

On Wednesday, officers tracked Johnson to a home at 803 West 39th Street, police said. When police arrived at the residence, Johnson ran away.

Family members told police Johnson had been driving a white Chevrolet Impala that was parked in the driveway. Officers later determined the car had been stolen earlier that day in the Greenspoint area. Inside the car, they found a semi-automatic pistol. Also, they discovered at least two credit cards that had been stolen in an aggravated robbery earlier in the day.

Carson was at his apartment on Dec. 8 when he went downstairs to meet Johnson and another man in a car, HPD Officer Richard Bolton has said about the case. When he climbed into the car's back seat, Johnson shot him, Bolton added. Then the men sped away with Carson still in the car.

Bolton said people who had been in the apartment with Carson heard gunshots and ran outside but could not find him. He was reported missing Dec. 8.

Bolton said a homeless man looking for discarded aluminum cans spotted the body under the bridge. It appeared, Bolton said, the body had been dragged down the embankment to where it was found.

Police said investigators found the getaway car, which was also used in dumping Carson's body. Blood was found in the car.

Another suspect, 20-year-old Rasheed Shelton, is charged with tampering with evidence in the case. He is in the Harris County jail.

Police said Johnson is considered extremely dangerous. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is urged to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.