EVERETT, WA – A Washington man accused of leading a violent robbery ring targeting Asian households has agreed to plead guilty to murdering a woman as she slept beside her family during a break-in in 2022.

Christopher Johnson, 24, is set to admit to second-degree murder in Snohomish County Superior Court in connection with the fatal shooting of 36-year-old Irah Sok. Authorities said the crime occurred during a string of armed home invasions orchestrated by Johnson and a group of associates who allegedly attacked families across several counties in Washington, as well as in Arizona.

Federal investigators describe Johnson as a ringleader in a criminal organization responsible for a wave of robberies, kidnappings, and burglaries that spanned multiple jurisdictions in the spring and summer of 2022. According to federal court documents, the group deliberately selected Asian American families, whom they believed would be less likely to resist their actions.

The suspects reportedly used social media to identify and monitor potential victims before striking. Law enforcement allege that the gang commonly targeted homes in the early-morning hours, sometimes falsely claiming to be police as they forced entry. Victims, including children, were restrained with zip ties, while valuables such as cash, jewelry, and luxury goods were stolen.

The violence reached its peak on Aug. 19, 2022, when Johnson and two accomplices allegedly broke into the Sok residence in Everett around 3 a.m. Investigators say Johnson shot Irah Sok in the head while she lay in bed with her husband and 7-year-old son. The attackers zip-tied Sok’s husband and ransacked the home before fleeing with thousands of dollars in valuables. Sok’s husband managed to free himself and seek help after the intruders left; the child was unharmed.

Friends and community members remember Sok as a talented local photographer who specialized in maternity and newborn portraits. She had recently opened her own studio in Everett before her life was cut short.

Johnson has already pleaded guilty in federal court to racketeering and related charges. Officials indicate that his state court plea to murder is expected to take place in mid-February. Sentencing in federal court is scheduled for early May.

Authorities say the investigation involved multiple agencies and ultimately tied Johnson and his co-defendants to dozens of home invasions and assaults. The victims, many of whom were young children, described harrowing ordeals at the hands of the masked intruders.

The case has spurred renewed conversations about the targeting of Asian American households and raised concerns about the use of social media for criminal activity. Detectives continue to pursue leads in related cases, and additional charges against other alleged participants remain possible.

Johnson remains in custody awaiting sentencing on both federal and state charges. The prosecution marks one of the most significant crackdowns on coordinated home invasion robberies in the region in recent years.