Philadelphia Man Sentenced To Prison In Warrington Carjacking

DOYLESTOWN, PA — A Philadelphia man who carjacked a man in Warrington Township and attempted to carjack a man in Doylestown Township was sentenced on Monday, Oct. 16 to 11 to 30 years in state prison.

Zahir Johnson, 22, was arrested, along with two juveniles, on June 13, 2022, and charged with committing a carjacking in Warrington Township and an attempted carjacking of a victim in Doylestown Township. The two juvenile co-defendants were adjudicated in juvenile court.

Johnson had entered guilty pleas in July to charges of robbery of a motor vehicle, criminal conspiracy to commit robbery of a motor vehicle, attempted robbery of a motor vehicle, theft, criminal attempt to commit theft, corruption of minors, simple assault, and harassment.

He appeared on Monday before President Judge Wallace H. Bateman Jr. who sentenced him to 7-20 years in state prison for the Warrington Township carjacking and 4 to 10 years in state prison on the attempted carjacking.

Judge Bateman ordered that the sentences run consecutively for a total of 11 to 30 years in state prison. He also ordered Johnson to pay restitution of nearly $97,000.

The attempted carjacking happened at 6:50 p.m. on June 13, 2022, at the Shell gas station at 1807 S. Easton Road in Doylestown Township. The victim was beginning to pump gas when he was approached by three young men who ordered the victim to turn over his keys. The men tried to restrain the victim, but he was able to break free and run inside the gas station for help.

The three men then walked south on Easton Road toward Warrington Township. At 8 p.m., Warrington Township police were dispatched to the Lukoil gas station at 1400 Easton Road for a report of a carjacking.

The victim was pumping gas when he was surrounded by the three men. One of them placed the victim in a chokehold, and another punched him several times. The victim threw his keys and the three males drove off in his vehicle.

Shortly after, Warrington police officers spotted the vehicle near the intersection of Route 202 and Route 152, a few miles from the gas station. Police initiated a traffic stop and the vehicle fled. Police later found the vehicle crashed into a building at the intersection of Route 152 and East Butler Avenue in Chalfont.

All three men fled from the vehicle and were taken into custody a short time later.

Prior to sentencing, Deputy District Attorney Alan J. Garabedian and Assistant District Attorney Alexandria Baland argued that Johnson should receive a lengthy state sentence because of the threat he posed to the community and a history of violent offenses in Philadelphia.

During the sentencing hearing, Baland played surveillance footage that captured both the incidents. Johnson was identified as the person punching the carjacking victim.