Pasadena Shooting Suspect Connected To Monrovia Death: Police

MONROVIA, CA — One of two men arrested in connection with the Valentine’s Day shooting of a 10-year-old Pasadena boy is linked to the fatal shooting of a man and his dog in Monrovia in March, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Police arrested Tanaj Johnson, 20, of Pasadena Monday in the shooting of a 10-year-old boy in the front yard of his Parke Street house in Pasadena on Feb. 14. The boy survived the shooting but required several surgeries to treat his injuries. Joseph Mekhi Knowles, 21, of Altadena was also arrested.

Johnson was previously arrested in April and charged with one count each of animal cruelty and murder by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office in the deaths of Darion Jones, 25, of Arcadia and his dog. Sheriff’s investigators and detectives with the Monrovia and Pasadena police departments linked Johnson and two other people to Jones’ death, according to the sheriff’s department.

Officials declined to say how they determined the three people were linked to the shooting.

A 17-year-old boy was also arrested in April and charged in connection with the shooting. The third suspect, Christian Hall, 20, was arrested on suspicion of an unrelated crime by the Pasadena Police Department on Sunday and was subsequently charged with one count of murder by the district attorney’s office.

Johnson is currently being held in lieu of $3.35 million bail, according to sheriff’s department inmate records. Hall is being held without bail. Custody information on the 17-year-old boy was not available.

Monrovia police responded to reports of gunfire in the 100 block of Los Angeles Avenue on the night of March 29. Officers found Jones had been shot several times, and he was pronounced dead at the scene, the sheriff's department said. A dog with him at the time was also shot and killed.

A motive for the shooting was unknown and the incident remains under investigation.

Anyone with information on Jones’ death can contact the sheriff’s department at 323-890-5500. Anonymous tips can be called into 800-222-8477 or submitted online at lacrimestoppers.org.