A Gary man faces up to 25 years after signing a plea deal admitting he shot a dog, then gunned down a man trying to protect his girlfriend, charges show.
Tomecko “Huggie” Johnson, 48, pleaded guilty Wednesday to voluntary manslaughter, a Level 2 felony. A judge would have to review and accept the deal.
He was charged with murder on Sept. 10, 2020, in the July 8, 2020 death of Terrance Turner, 24.
Johnson’s sentencing hearing is April 23.
Police were called around 7 p.m. July 8, 2020 to the 1200 block of Montana Street where they found Turner lying in a vacant lot.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
A woman told police she and Turner were walking their dogs when Johnson showed up at the end of the block with his moped. He threatened her and Turner in the past over their dogs, charges state.
Johnson had been involved with the woman’s relative in the past, according to court records.
As she, Turner and her relative walked, they tried to walk toward a field to avoid him. Johnson asked if they had a problem with him, the affidavit states.
The woman got back into an argument with him, asking why he recently attacked her relative the week before. Johnson pulled out a gun and shot one of her dogs, charges state.
“You’re going to shoot our dog,” Turner said.
He then pointed the gun at the woman. Turner pushed her out of the way, then Johnson “unloaded” the weapon, shooting him multiple times, charges allege.
Running on “adrenaline”, the woman charged Johnson, trying to get his gun. Johnson hit her over the head with the weapon, before her relative tried to break up the fight. His moped got tipped and Johnson ran from the scene, the affidavit states.
Turner was a 2013 Thea Bowman graduate and member of the First A.M.E Church, according to his obituary.
