A tragic and shocking crime unfolded on a crowded Brooklyn street when Claudia Banton, 46, gunned down her childhood friend, Delia Johnson, in a cold-blooded act of violence. The motive behind the murder remains a mystery, even as Banton was sentenced to 23 years-to-life in prison.
During the sentencing in Brooklyn Supreme Court, Johnson’s grieving relatives expressed their anguish and disbelief at the heinous crime committed by someone they once considered family. Johnson’s brother, Mathis Lemons, stated that Banton showed “no remorse” for her actions and deserved to spend the rest of her life behind bars for the “evil act” she committed.
Banton, who remained emotionless throughout the proceedings, was convicted of second-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon for the brutal execution-style killing that took place outside a friend’s funeral in Crown Heights on August 4, 2021. Despite the fact that Banton and Johnson were former friends, no information regarding the motive for the murder was revealed during the trial.
The prosecution described how Banton shot Johnson at least five times in front of shocked onlookers, with witnesses fleeing in fear as the shots rang out. The chilling police bodycam footage shown during the trial captured Johnson gasping for air as she lay wounded on the ground, her life slipping away before their eyes. Surveillance footage also captured the brutal slaying, providing irrefutable evidence of Banton’s crime.
After initially being stopped by police in her white Mercedes following the shooting, Banton was released when witnesses mistakenly identified the shooter as a man. It wasn’t until three months later, when US Marshals tracked her down in Jacksonville, Florida, that Banton was apprehended. She had altered her appearance and deleted her social media in an attempt to evade capture.
The senseless act of violence has left Johnson’s family shattered, with her mother, Delia Berry, recalling the pain of seeing Banton in chains for the first time. Despite the fact that Banton had been welcomed into their home on multiple occasions, she repaid their kindness with a vicious act of betrayal.
As Banton begins her lengthy prison sentence, the motive behind her actions remains a perplexing and tragic mystery. The pain and heartache inflicted on Johnson’s family serve as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of senseless violence.
