A Cowlitz County jury has convicted 17‑year‑old Johnson Mailos of second‑degree murder and a special verdict of deliberate cruelty in connection with a deadly stabbing at Lake Sacajawea Park in February 2024.

The victim, a 16‑year‑old R.A. Long High School student, was stabbed in the chest with a six‑inch knife during a chaotic altercation at the basketball courts and later succumbed to his injuries nearly a month later at a Portland hospital.Source Source

Mailos, who was tried as an adult, testified that he did not realize he had stabbed the victim until he saw “a smear of red on the end of the knife,” recalling that he saw his sister on the ground and thought she was in danger. Mailos said he believed he had punched the victim, not stabbed him.Source Source

The prosecution characterized Mailos’s actions as chillingly detached, saying he treated the situation “like a game.”Source Specifically, the jury agreed there was deliberate cruelty. The jury returned the guilty verdict after hearing video, body‑camera footage, and witness testimony—including footage showing Mailos telling an arresting officer, “I know what I did.”Source

Immediately after the verdict, Cowlitz County Superior Court Judge Michael Evans revoked Mailos’s bond. A sentencing hearing was scheduled for November 19, 2025, to consider mitigating factors related to his age and other circumstances.Source Source

Why this matters to Longview and Cowlitz County
This verdict concludes a highly charged, emotional case that gripped the Longview community throughout 2024. It raises serious questions about youth violence, community safety, and the legal system’s handling of juvenile defendants tried as adults. The case may prompt renewed calls for improved support systems for at-risk teens, expanded conflict‑intervention resources, and community engagement programs to address underlying causes of teen violence.

In the coming weeks, the sentencing phase will determine whether mitigation—including Mailos’s age and claimed lack of intent—will temper what could be a sentence approaching two decades behind bars. The community will watch closely to see how the court balances accountability with the potential for rehabilitation.

Related coverage: We previously reported on the initial charge and arrest in March 2024 when Mailos was charged as an adult with attempted first‑degree murder following the stabbing.Earlier coverage

We continue to follow this case as sentencing approaches and stand in solidarity with the victim’s family while pressing for justice and deeper community reflection.