Conroe Homicide Arrest: Suspect Faces Capital Murder

Conroe Police Make Arrest in 2023 Capital Murder of Christian Johnson

CONROE, TX – Conroe police have officially made an arrest in the capital murder of 21-year-old Christian Johnson, who was tragically shot and killed on June 27, 2023. Denzel Demontrey Hayes, a 26-year-old Houston resident, was taken into custody last Thursday in Houston following a coordinated effort by multiple law enforcement agencies.

Hayes now faces a capital murder charge in connection with Johnson’s death. Magistrate Judge Jason C. Dunn has set Hayes’s bond at $750,000, and he is currently being held at the Montgomery County Jail.

Christian Johnson was found deceased in the parking lot of The Mansions Woodland apartment complex, located at 1900 League Line Road in Conroe, around 3:30 a.m. on that Tuesday morning in June 2023. He had suffered multiple gunshot wounds.

Investigators with the Conroe Police Department’s Violent Crimes Unit have been working on the case for nearly a year. Authorities allege the incident stemmed from a drug transaction between Johnson and Hayes. According to police, Hayes intended to rob Johnson of drugs and cash, which then escalated into the fatal shooting.

The extensive investigation utilized critical evidence gathered over many months, including surveillance video from the apartment complex, witness statements, and detailed analysis of phone records. A key piece of evidence was Hayes’s white Dodge Charger, which was reportedly seen leaving the scene immediately after the shooting. The vehicle was later located in Houston, and further evidence recovered from it ultimately helped link Hayes directly to the crime.

The arrest of Hayes last Thursday, June 6, 2024, was the culmination of this thorough investigation. It involved a multi-agency task force, including personnel from the Conroe Police Department, the Houston Police Department, and the U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Task Force, demonstrating the collaborative effort required to apprehend the suspect who had crossed county lines.

Denzel Demontrey Hayes has a significant criminal history, according to court records. He has a prior conviction for aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon in Harris County from 2017. For that offense, Hayes was sentenced to 10 years in prison and was subsequently released on parole in 2020. His current capital murder charge marks a severe escalation in his alleged criminal activity.

Conroe Police Department officials expressed their commitment to bringing justice for Christian Johnson and his family, commending the dedication of their Violent Crimes Unit and the assistance from collaborating agencies. Hayes awaits further legal proceedings in Montgomery County.