Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Police Arrest SI Commune Shooting Suspect
By
Jen Chung
Published Jun 19, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Jun 19, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Last year, Rebekah Johnson went on the lam after allegedly shooting the leader of a Staten Island commune. Over a year later, police found Johnson after she got off a train in Philadelphia yesterday morning. Johnson, who had dodged the authorities after the shooting, was tracked down after she "bought a car in Delaware using her real name, and opened a post office box in nearby Cherry Hill, N.J." per the Post. And the final tip came when a subway rider in Philadelphia recognized her from America's Most Wanted.
On May 28 of last year, Johnson allegedly waited in the bushes outside one of the homes belonging to Ganas, a commune in Staten Island. When she saw Ganas co-founder Jeffrey Gross walking home (from a screening of An Inconvenient Truth), she allegedly shot him three times; police later found target practice silhouettes in her home. Johnson had a rocky history with Ganas: She sued the commune for $3 million, claiming she was kicked out for refusing to have a lesbian relationship, and had been previously arrested for harassing Gross and accusing the commune of forcing marriages.
Gross told the Staten Island Advance he felt "exuberance" after hearing about Johnson's arrest. Gross, who had moved away from the commune in case his presence would present a risk for other members, isn't sure if he'll return: "It certainly opens up a lot of doors that weren't opened before. I have a lot of options."
Tagged
america
An Inconvenient Truth
Cherry Hill
crime
history
Inconvenient Truth
most wanted
On May
philadelphia
police
post office
Rebekah Johnson
shooting
staten island
Staten Island Advance
subway
train
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Mamdani launches new team to help NYers keep SNAP, Medicaid benefits
Nearly 1 million in the city risk losing benefits as a result of new federal restrictions.
By
Caroline Lewis
Published Oct 19, 2026 at 12:43 p.m. ET
Riders at 53rd St. station where man was fatally shot say they worry about gun violence
A 26-year-old died after being shot on the platform at the Midtown station. Commuters are rattled.
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
News
Riders at 53rd St. station where man was fatally shot say they worry about gun violence
A 26-year-old died after being shot on the platform at the Midtown station. Commuters are rattled.
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
These are the NYC neighborhoods that will get free 2-K next fall
By
Karen Yi
Early Addition: Get to know Wanda, the donkey in the Met's 'La Bohème'
By
James Ramsay
Eric Adams' NYC buildings boss Eric Ulrich heads to trial, 3 years after arrest
By
David Brand
and
Samantha Max
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .