Gary man convicted of marijuana dealer's slaying
Tyrone Reno, 34, was convicted of murder in the Nov. 15, 2021, death of Quintez Johnson, plus a gun enhancement. He faces up to 85 years. His sentencing is June 13.
Prosecutors showed an apartment surveillance video minutes after Johnson was killed that showed an unmasked man looking directly at the camera as he fled down the stairs with a stolen backpack.
They argued it was Reno.
Defense lawyers Natalie Williams and Amishi Sanghvi pushed back, saying the identification was incorrect. There was no fingerprints or DNA linking him to the crime, Williams argued. No weapon was recovered. He was arrested two years later.
Gary Police responded Nov. 15, 2021, to an apartment building on the 1300 block of W. 5th Avenue for a homicide.
Detectives found a trail of marijuana up the stairs to an open Pringles can inside a third-floor apartment. Johnson, 31, was lying on the sofa. He had been shot twice in the head. There were no signs of struggle.
Security cameras showed a man — later identified as Reno — arriving at Johnson's apartment, then fleeing about three minutes later. He had a handgun and a marijuana bag. Police believe Johnson was shot around 2 p.m.
While a patrolman was writing a report at the Gary Police Station, 555 Polk St., a man who matched the one seen on the video walked by him and a colleague. He was wearing the same clothes, including a black hoodie with white lining and brown tag.
The other cop approached him. Reno gave his name but he wasn't arrested since the man in the video wasn't identified yet.
When Detective James Nielsen later interviewed him, Reno said one picture 'looks like me,' while the second, he admitted, 'that's me,' Deputy Prosecutor Kasey Dafoe told jurors earlier this week.
A witness said Johnson started selling marijuana a month earlier to help pay his bills.
Investigators used 'facial recognition software' to help match security footage outside the Gary Police station to the man seen at Johnson's apartment.
mcolias@post-trib.com
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