Prison inmate hangs himself after being sentenced to 123 years

A 28-year-old man has hanged himself in his Maryland prison cell after being sentenced to 123 years for holding hostages at a Burger King during a standoff with police.

George Johnson was convicted in October of false imprisonment and reckless endangerment for leading police last year on a chase, then holding four people hostage inside a Baltimore Burger King.



Johnson was found Friday night on his cell room floor, unresponsive, by an officer making rounds, a prison spokesperson said.

The cause of death was determined by the medical examiner’s office to be asphyxiation by hanging, the Baltimore Sun reported.

Baltimore Circuit Judge Melissa Phinn sentenced Johnson to 123 years on December 14. the day before he was found dead.