Suspect arrested in teen's 2022 murder at Fairfield party was on police radar right away, per warrant
Tahnyi Johnson was initially charged as a juvenile because he was 16 at the time of the incident.
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Tahnyi Johnson, now 20, was arrested earlier this month for a deadly shooting at a child’s birthday party in Fairfield nearly four years ago. But Johnson’s now-public arrest warrant shows he was on investigators’ radar from the start.
Johnson was initially charged as a juvenile because he was 16 at the time of the incident. The case was transferred to adult court, and on Tuesday, Johnson made his first appearance at the Bridgeport Judicial District Courthouse on charges of murder, first-degree assault, carrying a pistol without a permit and illegal discharge of a firearm in the death of 15-year-old Zion Burton, of Stratford and Bridgeport. The brief court hearing led his warrant in the case to be unsealed.
PRIOR COVERAGE: Arrest made in 2022 deadly shooting of 15-year-old at birthday party in Fairfield
The shooting happened July 9, 2022, at a church banquet hall on King’s Highway East where about 200 people had gathered for a 13 birthday celebration. Johnson, who was living in Bridgeport, was named as the gunman in a 911 call reporting the shooting, according to the warrant. Eyewitnesses also identified him to police, per the warrant. The warrant said cell phone video from people at the party showed Johnson reaching into his front waistband at various times and at one point holding what looked like a gun.
Surveillance from the church hall also captured the shooting. According to the warrant, Johnson was involved in a fight and walked to the middle of the room.
“A female can be seen grabbing Tahnyi's arm, then Tahnyi stood sideways, leaned toward the victim and then the victim fell. After the gunshot went off, people began to flee, but Tahnyi stood relatively still. The video showed Tahnyi reached down to his front waistband, and he was holding a black-colored object in his right hand, consistent to a gun,” the warrant said.
Police seized a bullet from Johnson's house that matched the caliber and brand found at the crime scene, per the warrant. DNA tests on the shirt he wore to the party came back positive for gunshot residue, and police recovered the Jordan sneakers he wore "in good condition" in the garbage, the warrant said.
Johnson has been in custody at Manson Youth Institution in Cheshire since August on unrelated charges for an alleged domestic violence incident in Stratford involving his ex-girlfriend. The arrest led Fairfield police to interview that woman about their case, according to the warrant. She told police she attended the party but was not dating Johnson at the time, the warrant said. She also identified Johnson in one of the video clips and said after the shooting, she heard two people say Johnson did it. But she stated she never talked to Johnson about the shooting or asked if he was the shooter, per the warrant.
In court Tuesday, Johnson's attorney said he wants to go to trial as soon as possible in both cases, but she explained to him he's not eligible for a speedy trial. Defendants have to be in custody for at least 8-12 months before filing a motion for that.
Johnson is being held on over $2 million bond. He returns to court June 16.
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