Salt Lake man pleads guilty to murder in violent home invasion

SALT LAKE CITY — A Salt Lake man pleaded guilty Monday to killing a man in a violent home invasion and robbery.

Landon Kavani Johnson, 20, admitted to killing 18-year-old Eric Padilla when he attempted to rob the man on Sept. 17. In a deal with prosecutors, additional charges against Johnson were dismissed, including aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary, first-degree felonies; and obstructing justice, a second-degree felony.

According to police, Padilla and two others were in the bedroom of an apartment at Sky Harbor Apartments, 221 N. Sun Harbor Terrace, playing video games when there was a knock at the door. Padilla did not live at the apartment, and someone else answered the door.

When the door opened, Johnson entered and grabbed the man who had opened the door by the neck, pointing a large silver revolver at him, charging documents state, telling the man, "Give me everything you got."

As the men went into the bedroom, Johnson shot Padilla once in the head, charges state. According to his change of plea statement, when Johnson entered the room he was "surprised by the movement of Eric Padilla and fired a gun toward Padilla," killing him.

Johnson then allegedly took a package containing marijuana and about $500 in cash and left.

While Johnson was in the house, "the bandana kept falling" off his face, the other witness told prosecutors. That man recognized the alleged gunman as "Landon."

Homicide detectives said they used surveillance video from the apartment complex to identify Johnson. When he was interviewed by police, Johnson said he had purchased marijuana at the apartment in the past, according to the charges.

Johnson faces a potential prison term of 15 years to life in prison when he is sentenced May 22.