In a tragic turn of events, the father-in-law and mother-in-law of renowned seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson were discovered deceased on Monday, suspected victims of a murder-suicide.
Muskogee, Oklahoma police reported that Jack Janway, 69 years old, Terry Janway, 68 years old, and 11-year-old Dalton Janway were found with gunshot wounds following a disturbance call made from the Janways’ residence that evening. Dalton Janway, the grandson of Jack and Terry and the nephew of Jimmie Johnson and his wife Chandra, was among the victims.
Authorities have identified Chandra’s mother, Terry, as the suspected shooter in this tragic incident. According to a media release from the Muskogee Police Department, emergency dispatch received a distress call at approximately 9:05 p.m. from a woman reporting a disturbance and the presence of an armed individual at the Janways’ residence before abruptly ending the call.
The release further stated that officers arriving at the scene discovered Jack Janway lying in the hallway of the house, having sustained a gunshot wound. Shortly after, another gunshot was heard from within the residence. Officers safely moved Jack Janway outside and issued announcements for any other occupants to exit the premises. As additional officers arrived, a thorough search of the residence was conducted, resulting in the discovery of Terry and Dalton deceased inside.
Jimmie Johnson and Chandra, who tied the knot in 2004, are parents to two daughters named Genevieve and Lydia. Chandra Johnson spent her childhood in Muskogee, where her father had been a chiropractor since 1983.
The mayor of Muskogee, Marlon Coleman, expressed his shock and distress, stating, “It was traumatizing to find out that a long-standing family who had made so many contributions to our community were involved in this type of incident. It was even more bone-chilling to find out there was a child involved. Dr. Janway has worked on me. We’ve been acquaintances for a very, very long time since I’ve been in Muskogee. Just knowing that it was him and his family took a different toll on me.”
As a consequence of this devastating situation, Jimmie Johnson has decided to withdraw from the upcoming NASCAR Cup Series race in Chicago, for which he was scheduled to compete. The Johnson family has requested privacy during this difficult time, and no further statements will be issued, according to Legacy Motor Club.
Jimmie Johnson, who clinched his final Cup Series title in 2016, shares a record with NASCAR legends Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty, as each of them has accumulated the most Cup championships in the sport’s history. Johnson retired from full-time competition in NASCAR in 2020 before transitioning to IndyCar racing for two seasons.
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After becoming a co-owner of Legacy Motor Club, previously known as Richard Petty Motorsports, Johnson returned to the Cup Series on a part-time basis. In the current year of 2023, he has participated in three races, achieving a top finish of 31st place at the Daytona 500. With 83 Cup Series victories in 689 starts, Johnson holds the sixth position in the all-time wins ranking, trailing behind icons such as Petty, David Pearson, his former teammate Jeff Gordon from Hendrick Motorsports, Bobby Allison, and Darrell Waltrip.