Grand jury indicts teen for murder in stabbing

A teenager who authorities say invoked his Muslim faith as the reason he killed a 13-year-old boy and stabbed two others in Palm Beach Gardens now faces charges in adult court.

On Thursday, a grand jury convened in West Palm Beach, indicted 17-year-old Corey Johnson, charging him with first-degree murder and two counts of attempted first-degree murder.

Police say Johnson told them he killed because of his Muslim faith.

The case shocked from the beginning: Police said there were multiple stabbings in the gated Ballenisles community in Palm Beach Gardens.

Thirteen-year-old Jovanni Sierra, who just celebrated his birthday, was stabbed to death.

The sleepover hostess, Elaine Simon, also stabbed, has since been released from the hospital.

Simon’s 13-year-old son, Dane Bancroft, stabbed 32 times protecting his mother, remains in the intensive care unit.

Police had charged Johnson as a juvenile, but he soon will be in an adult courtroom, after the grand jury indictment.

Palm Beach Gardens police say Johnson told them he stabbed his friend Jovanni, because of his religious beliefs.

Johnson had already been on the radar of both local law enforcement and federal agents.

Reports obtained by Sun Sentinel news partner, WPEC-CBS12 indicated that Johnson identified, at least at one point, with white supremacists and neo-Nazis.

The documents indicated that in the weeks before the stabbings, federal agents and prosecutors were close to charging Johnson with making a threat against a school in England.

At his last hearing, Johnson’s attorney, Public Defender Carey Haughwout, objected to a mental health evaluation of her client. The judge ordered the review, to address safety of others at the detention center.