Suspect arrested in Lauderhill murder

Darrius Johnson charged in Monica Gooden's death

LAUDERHILL, Fla. – Police made an arrest in connection with the murder of a woman whose body was found inside a Lauderhill home on Sunday.

Darrius Johnson, 22, was arrested and charged with the premeditated murder of Monica Gooden at the home located at 2248 NW 44th Terrace. Johnson stabbed Gooden several times and struck her multiple times with an Xbox 360, according to the police report.

Johnson was caught attacking an elderly woman during a burglary at her apartment down the street Sunday morning, police say. Gerald Curtis, the homeowner's nephew, stabbed him, and Johnson was transported to Broward Health Medical Center for treatment.

"I bust open the blinds and I see this guy slamming my auntie and punching her and stuff," said Curtis. "I went and stabbed him, trying to slow him down."

While at the hospital, Johnson told an officer he had gotten into an argument with his girlfriend the night before and that "I kept on stabbing her but she just wouldn't die... I think I killed her," according to the police report.

READ: Arrest affidavit

Johnson told the officer his girlfriend's name was Monica Gooden, and when officers conducted a welfare check at her home, they found her body inside, police say.

Police also found a damaged Xbox 360 with blood on it and three knives near her body.

When asked why he killed Gooden, Johnson talked about zodiac signs and told police he had to "make a sacrifice," according to the police report. He told police he killed Gooden for the betterment of himself and herself.

Johnson described how he fought Gooden as if he was fighting a dragon. He told police he hit her in the face with the Xbox, then stabbed her repeatedly, according to the police report.

Johnson was also charged with burglary with assault or battery.

"I never see a problem at the house so I didn't think too much about it," said Mario Langaey. "It's really surprising. It's really surprising because I didn't expect that from my neighbor."