Recent SC high school grad headed for Army killed in shooting while protecting friend, mom says

A recent high school graduate who was joining the Army this summer was shot and killed in Spartanburg County, and a 17-year-old has been charged with murder.

Nathaniel Xavier Johnson, 18, died early Thursday morning at Spartanburg Regional Hospital, his mother Misty Logino wrote on Facebook.

“My heart is in a million pieces and it will never ever be the same,” she said.

The Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office arrested Caleb Emmanuel Pietras, 17, Thursday in Greenville County.

“Although the suspect is a juvenile, he is being charged as an adult based on the seriousness of his offenses,” Lt. Kevin Bobo of the sheriff’s office said in a news release.

Pietras faces charges of murder, possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, and unlawful possession of a pistol.

Pietras will have a bond hearing before a magistrate at 2 p.m. Friday.

Bobo said a domestic-related issue appears to be the motive.

Johnson was found lying in a road with a gunshot wound, Bobo said. He was treated by paramedics and taken to Spartanburg Regional.

Spartanburg County Coroner Rusty Cleavenger said Johnson was pronounced dead at 12:45 a.m. Thursday. Results from an autopsy scheduled for Thursday have not been released.

Deputies were called to a house on Wild Cherry Circle in Lyman Wednesday, shortly before midnight. Logino said her son was unarmed and trying to protect someone.

Traci Fant, a community activist who knows the family, said Johnson, who goes by Xavier, had just graduated from Greer High School, where he was a wrestler. He was scheduled to report for boot camp July 3.

“Words can’t express my sympathy for Misty, as she is going through so many battles in life and just as things seemed to be looking brighter, she lost her beautiful son,” Fant said.

The family was together over the weekend for Misty Logino’s wedding.

“My baby boy is gone,” Logino said on Facebook. “He’s with his daddy now. Thank God, for allowing him to celebrate one more family function before you took him from me.”

Johnson’s father, Nathaniel Johnson II, was murdered in September 2019 outside a day care in Greenville County. Nikia Allen is charged with killing him and is awaiting trial in the Greenville County Detention Center.

Logino’s Facebook post said, “I refuse to believe ‘there is a reason for everything’ because he was snatched from me while trying to protect a friend from their crazy ex. There is no rhyme or reason. I’m devastated and I’m angry and I’m weak. Do not ask what you can do - unless you have a time machine…..and can bring Xavier back. Don’t be shocked when I don’t answer my phone. I will never recover from this. I just won’t.”

This story was originally published June 9, 2022 at 10:06 AM.