A Roanoke jury has convicted 34-year-old Juan Quontell Welton of second-degree murder and using a firearm in the commission of murder in the December 2024 slaying of Rafael Perez-Naranjo. The verdict, delivered following a two-day trial in Roanoke City Circuit Court, concludes a case that began when police discovered the victim unresponsive outside a room at the Affordable Corporate Suites on Lanford Street Northwest.
Authorities responded to the 4800 block of Lanford Street NW at approximately 6:50 p.m. on Dec. 4, 2024. Despite the arrival of officers, Perez-Naranjo was pronounced dead at 7:01 p.m. A medical examiner later determined that a bullet had struck the victim’s shoulder and traveled through his heart.
Evidence and Testimony Lead to Indictments
The investigation involved the review of surveillance footage, phone records, and physical evidence, leading to the 2025 indictments of both Welton and his co-defendant, Johanna Lee Felts. During the trial, prosecutors presented testimony from Felts, who cooperated with law enforcement as part of her involvement in the case.
Felts testified that she had arranged to meet Perez-Naranjo as a client while working as a prostitute. According to the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, Welton became angered by the planned meeting. He accompanied Felts to the location, where he confronted and shot Perez-Naranjo. Following the shooting, the pair returned to the apartment they shared and buried the firearm in nearby woods. Felts later assisted investigators in locating the weapon.
Sentencing Scheduled
The prosecution’s case relied on a combination of forensic analysis from the Virginia Department of Forensic Science, evidence gathered by the Roanoke City Police Department, and testimony from civilian witnesses. Welton is currently awaiting sentencing, which is scheduled for January 12, 2027, at 10:30 a.m.
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