LOCAL

Lance Johnson found guilty in 2020 killing of Binghamton's Alison Salisbury

Sarah Eames
Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin

After just under two hours of deliberation, a Broome County jury found a Binghamton man guilty on all counts related to a 2020 shooting that resulted in the death of Alison I. Salisbury and the injury of another woman.

Lance R. Johnson, 47, was indicted on felony charges of second-degree murder, second-degree attempted murder, first-degree criminal use of a firearm, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and tampering with physical evidence, as well as the misdemeanor of fourth-degree stalking.

“This was domestic-related violence at its worst,” Broome County District Attorney Michael Korchak said at a press conference following the conclusion of the trial Thursday, describing Johnson as “someone who has no regard for human life.”

Ashley Salisbury places commemorative wristbands atop a custom-made t-shirt honoring her late sister, Alison, who was shot to death in 2020 by Binghamton resident Lance R. Johnson. Johnson was found guilty of murder in Broome County Court on Thursday.

New York State Police responded to a reported shooting at a Conklin Avenue apartment complex shortly after midnight on Aug. 7, 2020, where they found two women in the parking lot.

Salisbury, 38, of Binghamton, was pronounced dead at the scene. Her girlfriend, Shannon Brooks, of Conklin, had been shot in the hand and was transported to UHS Wilson Medical Center in Johnson City.

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Investigators said Johnson attempted to conceal a semi-automatic handgun that was used in the crime and fled the scene, but was stopped by Binghamton police later that morning.

Johnson was also accused of stalking Brooks for more than a month leading up to the shooting.

“Mr. Johnson has a long, sordid history of not responding well to females that don’t want to be with him,” said Senior Assistant District Attorney Lucas Finley, who prosecuted the case. “Historically, when a partner decides they no longer want to be with Mr. Johnson, he reacts violently and criminally, as he did in this case.”

Broome County District Attorney Michael Korchak addresses the conviction of Binghamton resident Lance R. Johnson on several charges related to the 2020 death of Alison Salisbury, including second-degree murder. He is flanked by senior assistant district attorneys Amanda Chafee, left, and Lucas Finley, right. Second from left is Salisbury's girlfriend, Shannon Brooks, who was injured by Johnson's gunfire; Salisbury's sisters, Nicole, center left, and Ashley, center right, and their mother, Tina Torto, center.

Korchak said Johnson was “no stranger to the criminal justice system,” pointing to a 1993 conviction on charges of first-degree robbery, for which Johnson served nearly a decade in prison.

One year before the Conklin shooting, Johnson was released on parole after serving 16 months of a two- to four-year sentence for second-degree attempted assault.

Korchak said his office will request the maximum sentence of 55 years to life in prison. Johnson is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 17 in Broome County Court.