Armed robbery suspect identified as man killed after shooting at police

11/1/18 update: More details have come to light surrounding the officer involved shooting of an armed robbery suspect in Meyers on Monday.

There were three warrants for the arrest of Billy Jo Johnson on Monday, one from each South Lake Tahoe, Douglas County and Carson City. Law enforcement from each agency were working together on their cases in an attempt to locate and arrest the 34-year-old Johnson.

He was a suspect in the October 18 armed robbery of a Pioneer Trail store in South Lake Tahoe, an October 21 vehicle theft in South Lake Tahoe, the October 22 armed robbery of a Carson City yogurt shop and home invasion/burglary in Douglas County on September 21. From that date to October 21, Douglas County Sheriff's Office had received four reports of threats made by Johnson.

Detectives from the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) had a lead on Johnson's whereabouts on Monday and were headed to Markleville to arrest him when they spotted Johnson on his motorcycle going in the opposite direction near Luther Pass on SR89. They made a U-turn and pursed Johnson who then started shooting at the detectives. The high speed chase reached an estimated 90 mph with SLTPD avoiding the gunshots. Officers did not respond with gunfire until the end at the intersection of North Upper Truckee Road and Highway 50 when Johnson was shot and died of his injuries. By then multiple agencies had been involved.

Johnson was well known to SLTPD with case files going back about 18 years. He was currently residing in South Lake Tahoe though he'd also been in Gardnerville, Nevada where his driver's license was issued.

The names of the two SLTPD officers involved in the shooting have not been released at this time. They are on paid administrative leave which is protocol in this type of situation.

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SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The man who died after leading law enforcement on a chase from Luther Pass to Meyers on Monday, October 29 has been identified as a suspect in two armed robberies.

Billy Jo Johnson, 34, fired shots at detectives from the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) on Monday, October 29 near Luther Pass on SR89 as they were responding to an arrest warrant. This prompted a multi-jurisdictional response that resulted in his death after he was shot by police near the intersection of Highway 50 and North Upper Truckee Road. Billy Jo Johnson was pronounced dead on scene.

Johnson was the suspect in an armed robbery at the Fruitilandia yogurt shop in Carson City on October 22 and his alleged getaway car was reported stolen from the 2600 block of Knox Avenue in South Lake Tahoe the previous day. At the time of the stolen car and robbery, Johnson had an active arrest warrant from Douglas County for burglary and home invasion, stemming from a domestic violence case.

Both the Carson City and Douglas County Sheriff's Departments sought assistance from SLTPD in locating Johnson for their cases.

The shooting is still under investigation by the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office. Details about the shooting and exact reasons SLTPD was on Luther Pass have not been released at this time.