10-Year-Old Boy Unknowingly Filmed His Killer Days Before Tragic Murder in Florida
The disturbing events of October 21, 2018, unfolded in East Tampa, Florida, when Tyrone Johnson made a frantic 911 call confessing to shooting his girlfriend Stephanie Willis and her 10-year-old son. The call, punctuated by Johnson's hysterical breathing and disjointed statements, revealed a man in extreme distress claiming he had been attacked by the victims before resorting to deadly force.
Upon arrival at the scene, Hillsboro County Sheriff's deputies found Johnson on his porch with blood on his hands, repeatedly apologizing as they took him into custody. During the subsequent interrogation, investigators learned about Johnson's background as a Marine veteran who had struggled with housing instability and was recovering from recent surgery. As detectives worked to calm the distraught suspect, they began uncovering inconsistencies in his story about an argument that allegedly escalated over a television channel dispute—revealing that the tragic incident might have stemmed from something far more complex than initially appeared.
Key Takeaways
A Marine veteran's 911 call reporting he shot his girlfriend and her son led to his immediate arrest at an East Tampa apartment.
During police interrogation, the suspect exhibited extreme distress while claiming self-defense against the victims' alleged attack.
Investigators discovered the suspect's history of housing instability and personal trauma that would prove relevant to understanding the tragic events.
The 911 Call
On October 21, 2018, at 6:45 p.m., a distressing emergency call disrupted the quiet Sunday in East Tampa, Florida. The caller, identified as Tyrone Johnson, immediately confessed to shooting two people.
"I just shot my girlfriend and her son for attacking me," Johnson told the 911 operator in a panic-stricken voice. His breathing was erratic as he struggled to communicate clearly.
The operator attempted to gather essential information while calming the distressed caller. "Is the person still alive? Is this a male or female?" the operator asked.
"Both male and female. They're dead," Johnson responded. "They were attacking me and I killed them."
When asked about the weapon, Johnson identified it as registered to him. "It's a .45. It's registered to me," he stated. He explained that the victims were his girlfriend and her son, claiming they had been arguing and attacked him.
Throughout the call, Johnson's emotional state deteriorated. "Hurry up, hurry up," he pleaded repeatedly while the operator assured him help was on the way.
At one point, Johnson appeared to speak to someone else, though it remained unclear if another person was present in the apartment. "Dad, I got to tell to the police," he said during the call.
The operator worked diligently to keep Johnson on the line and gather his location details. "I'm standing at the door. I put the gun on the floor," Johnson informed the operator as police approached.
When deputies from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office arrived, they found Johnson sitting on his porch. He was still on his cell phone, visibly distressed, with blood on his hands. Johnson repeatedly cried, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry" as officers handcuffed him.
Officers noted that Johnson struggled to walk properly, not putting pressure on his right foot. This seemingly minor detail would later become significant in the investigation.
At the police station, Johnson's emotional state remained fragile. Detectives had to guide him through breathing exercises before they could begin questioning him. "Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth," they instructed. "We're going to get through this."
Johnson eventually revealed he was 42 years old and had served in the Marines for 10 years. He also mentioned having been homeless at some point. His previous employer at the Office of the Attorney General confirmed he had worked there as a paralegal for six months until September 2017, noting Johnson had struggled with housing stability.
After reading him his Miranda rights, detectives began exploring what triggered the shooting. Johnson claimed the argument started over changing the television channel from music videos to football, but the full truth behind this domestic tragedy would prove far more complex than initially apparent.
The Aftermath
After the shots were fired on October 21, 2018, Tyrone Johnson made a disturbing 911 call from his East Tampa apartment. His panicked confession came through broken sentences as he struggled to communicate clearly with the dispatcher. "I just shot my girlfriend and her son for attacking me," he managed to say between gasps.
Throughout the call, Johnson appeared disoriented and emotional. He repeatedly asked the dispatcher to hurry, stating, "I put the gun on the floor." The dispatcher worked to keep him calm and on the line until authorities arrived.
When Hillsboro County Sheriff's deputies reached the scene, they found Johnson sitting on his porch. Blood covered his hands as he cried out repeated apologies. Deputies noted he had difficulty walking, putting minimal pressure on his right foot—a detail that would later become significant in the investigation.
At the police station, Johnson's emotional state remained unstable. Detectives had to guide him through breathing exercises before any coherent interview could begin. "Breathe in through your nose, not through your mouth," they instructed, attempting to calm him enough to speak.
Johnson eventually revealed bits of his background during the interview. He claimed to be 42 years old and a ten-year Marine veteran who had experienced homelessness. His former employer at the Attorney General's Office later confirmed he had struggled with housing instability.
"I knew he was very frustrated with the VA because he didn't have housing," the employer told investigators. "I think he was living couch to couch."
The detectives worked patiently to establish a timeline of events. Johnson explained he had moved from South Carolina to Florida to be with his girlfriend, Stephanie Willis. When asked about the incident, he began with a seemingly trivial trigger: "I changed the TV to football. She was watching music videos."
According to Johnson, the argument escalated when Willis allegedly mocked him about his son who had died ten months earlier. He claimed that while attempting to gather his belongings to leave, she began attacking him. "I fell over my knee," he stated, mentioning he was trying to reach his crutches when she allegedly threatened him with a PlayStation.
Johnson had mentioned having surgery three weeks prior for what he described as a "war injury." As the interrogation proceeded, detectives realized his story contained inconsistencies that would require further investigation.
The bloody scene, Johnson's contradictory statements, and the emerging details painted a complex picture that investigators would need to carefully unravel to determine what truly happened in that apartment.
Investigation
Johnson's Arrest and Emotional State
On October 21, 2018, a chaotic scene unfolded in East Tampa when police responded to a disturbing 911 call at approximately 6:45 PM. When deputies from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office arrived, they found Tyrone Johnson sitting on his porch in extreme distress. Blood was visible on his hands as he repeatedly cried out, "I'm sorry."
Officers noted that Johnson surrendered without resistance but struggled to walk properly, avoiding putting weight on his right foot. This seemingly minor detail would later become significant to the investigation. After being handcuffed, Johnson was transported to the police station while his emotional state continued to deteriorate.
Questioning and Statements
At the station, detectives Joe and Dave attempted to conduct an interview with Johnson, who was initially too distraught to communicate effectively. They guided him through breathing exercises to help manage his panic attacks before proceeding with formal questioning.
Detective: "Tyrone, listen to me. Listen to me. Don't look at your hands right now, okay?"
Johnson: *hyperventilating*
Detective: "We're going to get through this. Just breathe."
After reading Miranda rights, which Johnson acknowledged and signed, the detectives began exploring what had happened. Johnson claimed the incident began with a disagreement over the television—he wanted to watch football while his girlfriend Stephanie Willis preferred music videos. According to Johnson, the situation escalated when Willis allegedly made a cruel comment about his deceased son.
Johnson stated: "I called my dad and said come and get me in the morning... I was getting my stuff and she began to hit me." He described falling due to his injured knee and claimed Willis attempted to throw a PlayStation at him while he was down.
Personal History Information
The investigation revealed that Johnson, 42, had previously served in the Marines for ten years and had experienced housing instability. His former employer at the Office of the Attorney General, where Johnson worked as a paralegal for six months until September 2017, confirmed these housing difficulties.
"I knew that he was very frustrated with the VA because he didn't have housing, and I think he was living couch to couch," the employer stated. "I didn't know that he didn't have a place to live until he kept disappearing on us."
Johnson informed detectives that he had undergone surgery just three weeks prior to the incident for what he described as a "war injury" where he was "crushed by a Howitzer base plate." He explained that he had relocated from South Carolina to Florida specifically to be with Willis. Johnson also mentioned having five children, with one son who had died approximately ten months before the incident.
Tyrone's Personal Struggles
Tyrone Johnson, a 42-year-old former Marine with ten years of service, faced significant challenges in his personal life before the tragic events of October 21, 2018. His military service left lasting physical impacts, including a war injury that required surgery just three weeks prior to the incident. The injury resulted from being crushed by a howitzer base plate during his deployment.
Housing instability plagued Tyrone after his military service. According to his former employer at the Office of the Attorney General, where he worked as a paralegal for six months until September 2017, Tyrone struggled to maintain steady housing. His supervisor noted, "He was very frustrated with the VA because he didn't have housing," and believed he was "living couch to couch" during his employment.
The emotional burdens Tyrone carried were substantial. He had five children, and tragically lost one of his sons approximately ten months before the incident. This grief became a point of conflict in his relationship with Stephanie Willis, his girlfriend whom he had relocated from South Carolina to Florida to be with.
Physical limitations compounded Tyrone's difficulties. During the investigation, officers observed him unable to put weight on his right foot, requiring crutches for mobility following his recent surgery. These physical constraints would later become significant factors in understanding the sequence of events that unfolded in the apartment.
His emotional state during questioning revealed extreme distress. Detectives had to guide him through breathing exercises as he hyperventilated, and he repeatedly apologized while exhibiting signs of shock. Blood on his hands prompted officers to discourage him from looking down at them, suggesting the traumatic nature of what had occurred.
The argument that precipitated the violence began over something seemingly trivial - changing the television from music videos to football. However, this dispute quickly escalated into allegations of deeper interpersonal issues, including hurtful comments about Tyrone's deceased son.
Amidst these personal challenges, Tyrone's life trajectory took a devastating turn that Sunday evening, transforming his existing struggles into a crisis that would permanently alter multiple lives.
Revelations During the Interrogation
The interrogation room atmosphere was tense as detectives attempted to calm Tyrone Johnson. His hyperventilation and emotional distress required intervention before any meaningful questioning could begin. The detectives guided him through breathing exercises, encouraging him to breathe through his nose rather than his mouth.
Initially, Tyrone struggled to communicate coherently. Blood covered his hands, which the detectives advised him not to look at while they worked to stabilize his emotional state. After accepting water, he gradually became more responsive to their questions.
Tyrone revealed personal details as he calmed down. At 42 years old, he had served in the Marines for 10 years. He mentioned a recent leg surgery for a war injury, explaining he "got crushed by Howard's base plate" approximately three weeks prior to the incident. This injury appeared to have limited his mobility.
His housing situation had been unstable before moving in with Stephanie Willis. According to a former employer at the Office of the Attorney General, where Tyrone had worked as a paralegal for six months until September 2017, he had been "living couch to couch" and was "very frustrated with the VA because he didn't have housing."
When questioned about what triggered the incident, Tyrone described a disagreement over the television. "I changed the TV to football... she was watching music videos," he explained. The argument apparently escalated when Stephanie made comments about Tyrone's deceased son, who had died 10 months earlier.
Tyrone's account of the physical confrontation included claims that Stephanie began hitting him, causing him to fall due to his recent knee surgery. He stated he was trying to reach his crutches when she allegedly threatened to throw a PlayStation gaming console at him. His emotional state made parts of his explanation difficult to understand, requiring him to act out portions of his story.
As the interrogation progressed, inconsistencies in Tyrone's narrative began to emerge, suggesting that the events of October 21, 2018, might not have unfolded exactly as he initially described.
Conclusion of the Case
The investigation into the October 21, 2018 shooting revealed inconsistencies in Tyrone Johnson's initial account. After calming down during his police interview, Johnson claimed the argument began over changing the TV channel from music videos to football. He alleged his girlfriend Stephanie Willis mocked him about his son who had died 10 months earlier, triggering the confrontation.
Johnson, a 42-year-old Marine veteran who served for 10 years, told detectives he had called his father to pick him up the following morning. According to his statement, while gathering his belongings, Willis began physically attacking him. He claimed he fell due to a recent surgery on his leg from a war injury, which explained why officers had observed him unable to put pressure on his right foot when arrested.
Before the incident, Johnson had struggled with housing stability. His former employer at the Office of the Attorney General, where he worked as a paralegal for six months until September 2017, noted Johnson frequently "disappeared" due to housing issues, often "living couch to couch" and experiencing frustration with VA housing assistance.
The initial 911 call captured Johnson's panic as he immediately confessed to shooting both Willis and her 10-year-old son. When police arrived, they found him sitting on the porch with blood on his hands, repeatedly saying "I'm sorry." Though he surrendered without resistance, his emotional state made the subsequent interrogation challenging for investigators.
Police recordings reveal officers patiently guiding Johnson through breathing exercises to calm his hyperventilation before proceeding with formal questioning. Despite his initially incoherent responses, detectives eventually established enough composure to read him his Miranda rights, which he acknowledged before providing his version of events.
