A Sarasota woman was sentenced to life in prison on Tuesday for murder in the second degree in connection to a New Year's Day brawl that turned deadly with one man fatally shot more than two years ago.
Latoya Johnson, 40, was sentenced to prison for the murder of Alain Sierra, 39, that happened inside Patellini’s Restaurant in downtown Sarasota on New Year’s Day in 2022, according to a news release from the State Attorney of the 12th Judicial Circuit Court's Office.
In July, a jury found Johnson guilty of second-degree murder with a firearm, tampering with evidence and carrying a concealed firearm. The news release added that Johnson also pled guilty to possessing a firearm by a convicted felon during the same incident before she was sentenced.
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Court records indicate the Office of the Public Defender of the 12 Judicial Circuit has been appointed to represent Johnson for purposes of an appeal, which she will have 30 days to file.
Johnson was also sentenced to 279.3 months, or a little more than 23 years, for each count of tampering with evidence, carrying a concealed firearm and possessing a firearm by a convicted felon. All four counts are to run concurrently, and she was given credit for time served.
Assistant State Attorney Karen Fraivillig hailed the investigative efforts of Sarasota detectives Kim Laster and Maria Llovio who conducted an interview with Johnson in which she admitted that she always carried a gun with her, despite numerous felony convictions.
“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," Fraivillig said in the release.
Johnson was arrested shortly after the shooting, and charged with murder in the second degree, tampering with evidence, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and carrying a concealed firearm, according to court records.
According to previous Sarasota Herald-Tribune reporting, Johnson and a group of friends passed by a table of people sitting on the patio of the restaurant on their way inside and as they passed, four men at the table "began catcalling them and flicking their tongues."
The defense argued in a motion submitted to the court that once seated at their table, the men outside made "monkey gestures" at Johnson's group, followed by running their fingers across their throats before gesturing for Johnson's brother to come outside. One of the men then stood up and entered the restaurant.
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In video surveillance, one of Sierra's family members can be seen walking into the restaurant heading toward the bathroom area and appearing to be intoxicated and physically sick, according to previous reporting. As they passed by Johnson and her friends, the family member vomited on one of the people sitting with Johnson, prompting a brawl to start.
The affidavit states that in a post-Miranda interview, Johnson told investigators she joined the fight and was struck from behind by an unknown person. Video from the restaurant confirmed that it had been Sierra who had hit Johnson in the back of the head as he ran inside to intervene in the fight and protect his family, according to previous reporting.
Johnson immediately took out a revolver, turned and shot the man. Johnson and her friends then left the restaurant, and when Johnson spotted a police officer, she tossed her revolver in a planter in the area, according to the affidavit.
Gabriela Szymanowska covers the legal system for the Herald-Tribune in partnership with Report for America. You can support her work with a tax-deductible donation to Report for America . Contact Gabriela Szymanowska at gszymanowska@gannett.com , or on X: @GabrielaSzyman3.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota woman sentenced to life in prison for fatal New Year's Day shooting in 2022
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