Second trial begins in elderly couple’s slaying

Kim Smith

Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2001 | 10:22 a.m.

The second of two Las Vegas teens accused of murdering an elderly couple known for selling candy to neighborhood children is now on trial.

Deangelo Mitchell, 18, could receive a no-parole life sentence if he is convicted in the Sept. 23, 1998, deaths of Flora Johnson, 86, and Azel Evans, 71.

Prosecutors believe Mitchell and Shauntay Wheaton went to the elderly couple's home to rob them of the money they earned selling treats to neighborhood children and ended up killing them instead.

Johnson, who was known as the "Candy Lady," died from one gunshot wound and Evans was struck four times by three bullets.

Wheaton, who was 15 at the time of the slayings, was convicted in December and is awaiting sentencing.

Chief Deputy District Attorney L.J. O'Neale told jurors during opening arguments Tuesday that the boys were seen leaving the crime scene and finger- and footprints placed Wheaton inside the home.

Both youths also made incriminating statements, O'Neale said.

However, defense attorney Anthony Sgro said the evidence proves Wheaton was the shooter.

Mitchell didn't know Wheaton was going to rob the couple or murder them, Sgro said.

Sgro told the jurors they will learn that a police officer testified at the boys' preliminary hearing that it was Wheaton who confessed to the robbery plot and then changed his mind after a break and identified Mitchell as the teen who incriminated himself.

In order to convict Mitchell of first-degree murder, the jurors have to decide that Mitchell went to the home knowing a robbery or other crime was going to take place.

They will have to decide if they want to take the officer's new testimony "to the bank," Sgro said.