A La Mesa man was sentenced to 31 years to life in prison for fatally stabbing a 59-year-old neighbor during a confrontation that unfolded in front of children at an El Cajon apartment complex. Stephen Mathews Coney, 30, was convicted of second-degree murder for killing Albert Johnson, and a judge handed down the sentence this week in a case that drew nearly 30 family members to the courtroom.
A jury convicted Coney of second-degree murder on September 9, after deliberating for less than a day, according to the San Diego County District Attorney. Prosecutors said Coney confronted Johnson in the parking lot of an apartment complex on South Sunshine Avenue near West Renette Avenue, then pulled out a knife and fatally stabbed him. Johnson was taken to a local hospital, where he later died.
The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that the altercation occurred at about 5:30 p.m. on August 30, 2025, in El Cajon. El Cajon police officers located Coney at the apartment complex shortly afterward and took him into custody.
Children Watched the Attack Unfold
Perhaps the most harrowing detail to emerge from the case is that the stabbing happened in plain view of young witnesses. District Attorney Summer Stephan said the victim “took his last breath in public in front of shocked children who witnessed the violent confrontation,” per the DA's office. A child witness later testified that she and her siblings and cousins saw Johnson defend himself, fight for his life, and take his last breath.
Stephan said that while no sentence can undo the pain suffered by Johnson's loved ones, holding Coney accountable was an important part of seeking justice. “Our office remains committed to protecting victims and their families and ensuring that those responsible for violent crimes are held accountable,” she said, according to the same release. The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Abrey Zora.
A Grieving Father Speaks
Johnson's father, Wyatt Johnson, described a family left reeling by the loss. “Our family is stunned and left lonely because of the empty space that has been left because of the dastardly crime perpetrated on my son,” he said, per the district attorney's statement. He added that Albert “was making life a little better for those all around him and his children, who now are left without a father and example of a good man whom they could look up to, and know what righteous life is all about.”
Nearly 30 family members attended the trial and sentencing, underscoring how deeply the case reverberated through Johnson's extended family. Under California Penal Code Section 190(a), second-degree murder generally carries a sentence of 15 years to life, except as provided under other subdivisions of the statute, according to California Legislative Information. Coney's 31-years-to-life sentence reflects that baseline.
