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The in-laws of the seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson were found dead on Monday, June 26 in a suspected murder suicide. Later on, Tuesday, June 27, police in Muskogee, Oklahoma confirmed that they are investigating the death of Johnson’s mother-in-law and father-in-law. The police confirmed discovering bodies of Chandra Janway’s father Jack Janway, 69; her mother Terry Janway, 68; and her nephew Dalton Janway, 11, at a home, located about 80 kms southeast of Tulsa.
Police officers believed that they heard NASCAR star’s mother-in-law shooting herself after she shot her husband and 11-year-old grandson. The police officials heard a gunshot as they arrived at their home, and on entering their house, the cops found everyone dead. Cops said that Terry called the police to say that there was a ‘woman with a gun’ and are suspecting her of killing her husband and grandson before she shot herself.
NASCAR released a statement after the tragic incident. It read, “We are saddened by the tragic deaths of members of Chandra Johnson’s family. The entire NASCAR family extends its deepest support and condolences during this difficult time to Chandra, Jimmie and the entire Johnson & Janway families.”
Muskogee’s Mayor Marlon Coleman told Fox 23, "It was traumatising 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."
In addition to this, Legacy Motor Club, Johnson’s race team announced on Twitter about the withdrawal of No. 84 Carvana Chevrolet from this weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series event in Chicago. The team said, "The Johnson family has asked for privacy at this time and no further statements will be made."
Johnson won his final Cup Series title in 2016 and retired from full-time competition in NASCAR in the year 2020 before racing in IndyCar for two seasons.
