Sarasota woman sentenced to life in prison for fatal New Year's Day shooting

A Sarasota woman was sentenced to life in prison Tuesday for first-degree murder in connection with a New Year's Day brawl that ended in death more than two years ago and left one man dead.

Latoya Johnson, 40, was sentenced to prison for the murder of Alain Sierra, 39. The murder occurred on New Year's Day 2022 at Patellini's Restaurant in downtown Sarasota, according to a news release from the 12th District Court District Attorney's Office.

In July, a jury found Johnson guilty of first-degree murder with a firearm, tampering with evidence and carrying a concealed firearm. The press release added that prior to her sentencing, Johnson also pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon during the same incident.

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Court records show that the 12th Circuit Public Defender's Office has been assigned to represent Johnson on appeal and has 30 days to file the appeal.

Johnson was also sentenced to 279.3 months, or just over 23 years, for each count of tampering with evidence, carrying a concealed firearm and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. All four counts must be tried concurrently, and she received credit for time already served.

Assistant District Attorney Karen Fraivillig praised the investigative efforts of Sarasota Detectives Kim Laster and Maria Llovio. In an interview with Johnson, she admitted that she always carried a gun despite numerous felony convictions.

“The successful prosecution of this senseless murder was directly due to the quick response of Sarasota Police Department personnel immediately following Alain Sierra's death,” Fraivillig said in the press release.

Johnson was arrested shortly after the shooting and charged with first-degree murder, tampering with evidence, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon and carrying a concealed firearm, court records show.

According to previous reporting by the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Johnson and a group of friends passed a table of people sitting on the restaurant's patio on their way into the restaurant, and as they passed, four men at the table began “whistling and clicking their tongues” at them.

The defense argued in a motion submitted to the court that after the men were seated at their table, they made “monkey gestures” toward Johnson's group, then ran their fingers across their throats and gestured for Johnson's brother to come out. One of the men then stood up and entered the restaurant.

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Video surveillance shows one of Sierra's family members entering the restaurant and walking toward the restroom area appearing intoxicated and physically ill, according to previous reports. As they walked past Johnson and her friends, the family member vomited on one of the people seated with Johnson, which led to a fight.

The affidavit states that Johnson told investigators in a post-Miranda interview that she entered the fight and was attacked from behind by an unknown person. Video from the restaurant confirmed that it was Sierra who struck Johnson in the back of the head as he ran inside to intervene in the fight and protect his family, according to previous reports.

Johnson immediately pulled out a revolver, turned around and shot the man. Johnson and her friends then left the restaurant, and when Johnson spotted a police officer, she threw her revolver into a nearby flowerpot, the affidavit states.

Sarasota woman sentenced to life in prison for fatal New Year's Day shooting

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Sarasota woman sentenced to life in prison for fatal New Year's Day shooting

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