A Florida man who fatally shot his girlfriend and her 10-year-old son on Sunday claimed he carried out the double slaying during an argument over television and football, police said.
The Tampa Bay Times reported that Tyron Terell Johnson, 42, called 911 Sunday evening and said he opened fire on two people “because he was being attacked” as he changed the channel to watch a football game. A police report obtained by the news outlet stated that Johnson claimed his live-in girlfriend scolded him in the bedroom and began attacking him from behind as he packed his belongings.
Johnson claimed his girlfriend carried out the attack as he used a knee roller which he needed to get around after undergoing foot surgery for a military-related injury, according to the newspaper.
WTVT reported that, during the altercation, the woman’s 10-year-old son accused Johnson of attacking his mother.
“(Johnson) pushed (the child) off of his left side…and then armed himself with what he described as a Glock 22 .40 caliber handgun. (Johnson) then began to fire at (the female victim) as she was holding a PlayStation in her hands,” deputies wrote.
Johnson reportedly said the boy left the master bedroom but returned after his mother was shot. It was then when Johnson said he shot him.
However, evidence reportedly recovered from the Tampa home directly contradicted Johnson’s claims.
The report stated gunfire residue was located in the 10-year-old’s bedroom and blood was located under the child’s bed. Johnson was presented with this evidence but he stuck with his initial story, according to the Times.
Johnson reportedly lived with the two victims for about a year. Records obtained by the newspaper indicated that Johnson served in the U.S. Marines from 1994 to 1998 and the U.S. Army from 1998 to 2002.
The identities of the victims aren’t being released at this time. Meanwhile, Johnson remains jailed as he faces murder and aggravated child abuse charges.
[Featured image: Tyron Terell Johnson/Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office]