A Sarasota woman will spend the rest of her life behind bars after killing a man at a Pizza restaurant during a New Year’s Day celebration.
A 12th Judicial District judge handed Latoya Johnson a life term in prison for the shooting death of Alain Sierra. Johnson was found guilty and convicted by a jury of second-degree murder with a firearm, carrying a concealed firearm, and tampering with evidence.
“The successful prosecution of this senseless murder was directly attributable to the quick response of Sarasota Police Department personnel in the immediate aftermath of Alain Sierra’s death,” said Assistant State Attorney Karen Fraivillig, according to News Channel 8.
On Jan. 1, 2022, officers responded to Pantellini’s Restaurant in downtown Sarasota after a violent altercation. According to FOX 13, during Florida’s annual New Year’s Eve Pineapple Drop, the defendant had been with a group at the restaurant, sitting against the wall, when one of Sierra’s relatives, who was intoxicated, threw up on someone next to Johnson. Soon, a fight broke out with Johnson holding a black handgun and kicking the victim’s relative.
Meanwhile, Sierra, who had been sitting outside on the restaurant’s patio, rushed towards the commotion to defend his family by hitting the defendant on the head. Then, Johnson turned around and shot the victim before she fled the scene.
Upon the arrival of first responders, Sierra was rushed to Sarasota Memorial Hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds.
Based on the description of witnesses, police officers tracked down Johnson near Whole Foods on Second Street, where the defendant was seen hiding the murder weapon in a potted plant. She was arrested immediately. Later, investigators retrieved video footage that captured the fatal incident and the events that led up to it.
Johnson, who had many felony convictions, also pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm by a convicted felon.
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