A 17-year-old girl in Colorado Springs tragically died in her workplace after a suspected confrontation with her Walgreens co-worker. Police arrested a 28-year-old man in connection to the murder of Riley Whitelaw. Before Riley was killed, she reported being “uncomfortable” around the suspect to a manager who put them on the same work shifts.
According to KKTV, the Colorado Springs Police Department said Whitelaw was found dead at an area Walgreens on Saturday, June 11. A store manager discovered her body in the break room. The scene was reportedly bloody, the witness said. Before a manager found Riley, a 16-year-old customer told police she was standing in the deodorant aisle when she heard a female screaming and the sound of stall doors slamming.
The arrest affidavit revealed that the victim appeared to suffer neck injuries and blood all over the room. Her ID badge and radio earpiece were lying near her feet.
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“There were significant blood stains on the breakroom floor, cabinets, and counter. There was an identification badge on the floor and a radio earpiece… near the victim’s feet.”
Teen Rejected Suspect’s Advances Before Murder
Police arrested Riley Whitelaw’s co-worker, Joshua Johnson charged him with one count of Murder in the First Degree. According to the arrest affidavit, a Walgreens manager, Justin Zunino, reviewed the surveillance footage. He observed the 28-year-old stacking bins in front of the surveillance camera until he blocked the view.
He also confirmed that someone had taped paper over the windows in the break room area, and the “restroom closed” sign was placed in the area to keep people out, something that doesn’t happen until the end of the business day.
[The manager] observed an employee named Joshua Johnson stacking bins in front of a surveillance camera til it blocked the view of the camera. [The manager] stated someone had taped paper over windows in the break room area. The ‘restroom closed’ sign was in the area to keep people out, which typically does not occur til near the end of business.”
To the same manager, Whitelaw had made complaints about Johnson last year. She said Johnson had made advances toward her, which made her uncomfortable, according to court documents. Zunino reported he’d told Johnson to “keep things professional” and said Johnson “appeared to be receptive.”
Months later, Riley requested more hours and was told she had to work with Johnson to receive them.
During a interview with police, Johnson allegedly admitted to being in the break room and claimed he fell in the blood and went home to change. He appeared to have red scratch marks on his face and body. He also denied stacking the boxes in front of the camera, which is shown on video.
Mugshot Release: Joshua Taylor Johnson (28)
On Saturday, 6/11/22, at 6:55 pm, officers from CSPD responded to the 6800 block of Centennial Boulevard for a deceased individual. Detectives from the Homicide/Assault Unit responded and assumed responsibility for the investigation. pic.twitter.com/3j0cP4rq58— Colorado Springs Police Department (@CSPDPIO) June 13, 2022
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