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The Virginia State Police (VSP) charged a 17-year-old Prince Edward County male with first-degree murder Wednesday, March 18, for the 2019 murder of a Prince Edward County man.

According to a release from VSP, the juvenile was served the petition for first-degree murder at the Piedmont Regional Juvenile Center in Farmville, where he has been held since being charged in Buckingham County in December 2019.

The juvenile has been charged with the murder of Lloyd A. Johnson, 75, of Rice.

According to VSP, Johnson was found dead inside his home Dec. 22.

At approximately 10:38 p.m. Dec. 21, Virginia State Police Trooper J.P. Campbell stopped a 2003 Toyota Avalon for speeding. The vehicle was traveling at 51 mph in a posted 35 mph zone on Route 60 in Buckingham County.

The trooper activated his emergency lights and siren to initiate the traffic stop, and the Toyota pulled over to the side of Route 60. As the trooper approached the vehicle on foot, it sped away at a high rate of speed. A pursuit was initiated during which the suspect vehicle began driving the wrong way on Route 60 before running off the road and crashing near Route 15.

State police charged the male juvenile with one felony count of eluding police, one felony count of grand larceny, two counts of theft of a firearm, petit larceny, two counts of reckless driving, driving the wrong way, resisting arrest, driving without a license and for not wearing a seat belt.

Two stolen firearms were recovered from inside the crashed vehicle. State police also determined the Toyota had been stolen from Johnson’s residence.

With the assistance of the Prince Edward County Sheriff’s Office, VSP were able to obtain the murder charge for the juvenile.

According to VSP, the investigation remains ongoing.