Two men convicted of murder in shooting of 19-year-old over gang colors
Two gang members were convicted Monday in the shooting death of Tavin Price, a 19-year-old who was killed in front of his mother in the parking lot of a Hyde Park car wash last year.
The jury deliberated for less than three hours before finding Kanasho Shadrick Johns, 29, and Kevin Deon Johnson, 26, guilty of one count each of murder for killing Price. Johns was also found guilty of one count of a felon with a firearm. Jurors also found gang and gun allegations to be true.
The two men are scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 30. They face 50 years to life in state prison.
A third suspect, Dwight Kevin Smith, 31, pleaded guilty to one count of manslaughter as part of a deal to testify against Johns and Johnson. Smith faces a sentence of 12 years in state prison.
In closing arguments Friday, Deputy Dist. Atty. Bobby Zoumberakis said the men, members of a Crips gang, shot Price on May 29, 2015, because Price was wearing red shoes, a color associated with the rival Bloods gang.
Price had a mental disability and was not affiliated with any gang, family said.
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