Augusta community reeling after 2 teen girls arrested for murder

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) - “Too close to home.” That’s the initial reaction in the Augusta community following the arrests of two 14-year-old girls for murder in a 93-year-old woman’s death that happened nearly a year ago.

Joanne Johnson, known to many as “Jojo,” was found dead in her home over Labor Day Weekend last year. Augusta business owner Shane Scott said he knew the Johnson family and like many, is shocked by what happened in the small Butler County town.

“People of our community hurt, we hurt,” Scott said. “And when they mourn, we mourn. And right now, the town’s mourning for all that are involved.”

Police haven’t released the names of the two teens arrested for first-degree murder in Johnson’s death. Augusta Mayor Mike Rawlings said news of the arrests spread quickly through social media.

“In this town, within a few hours, everybody knows something about a crime, specifically a murder. So it was gut-wrenching and disgusting,” Rawlings said.

Scott said though this tragedy shook the town, he wants everyone to know that the heinous crime doesn’t reflect the Augusta community.

“We will recover from this. And our town will love each other and we will come together and go back to that close-knit, safe town that we’ve always been,” he said.

As the investigation into the case continues, there are unanswered questions including a motive for the violent crime.