TAMPA, Fla. – A judge once again denied bond for a Hillsborough County man charged with killing his girlfriend and her 10-year-old son.
- Man accused of shooting girlfriend, her son denied bond
- Stephanie Willis and Ricky Willis were killed Oct. 21
- Family and friends describe the two as "loving and caring"
Tyrone Johnson is charged with shooting and killing his live-in girlfriend, 34-year-old Stephanie Willis, and her son Ricky Willis at the Mariner's Cove apartment complex on October 21.
Johnson wasn't in the courtroom for his hearing on Saturday, but detectives gave extensive details on the circumstances surrounding the deadly shooting.
The victims' loved ones were at the hearing and were extremely emotional over the heartbreaking details.
"It's sketched in my mind and I'm just so sorry for those babies because they didn't deserve it," Zina Cheers said.
Zina Cheers's daughter is Stephanie Willis's sister.
"My daughter lost her sister and her nephew and everybody lost a really, really beautiful girl and marvelous, excellent son," Cheers said.
Detectives said Johnson told them an argument started at the home after he changed the television channel to watch football. According to an affidavit, Johnson said he'd been using a knee roller to move around after have surgery. As things escalated, Johnson told detectives that Willis pushed him to the ground and that's when he pulled out a handgun.
"He indicated that Miss Willis had called him a certain name that he took offense to and then brought up an issue in his past," detective Joseph Florio stated.
Johnson told detectives he acted in self-defense and he was worried Willis was going to throw a Playstation at him. He claims both she and Ricky were shot in the master bedroom but detectives dispute that. They said shell casings were found in Ricky's bedroom and it appears he may have been hiding under his bed.
Detectives said an autopsy revealed he had been shot six times.
Heartbroken loved ones are now remembering the lives that were taken far too soon.
"When you'd see him you'd see her," family friend Jennifer Witter said. "They took a lot of pictures together, they did a lot of things together."
"They're the most loving, caring beautiful people that anyone would ever know, and they did not deserve any of this," Cheers said.
Johnson is facing a number of charges, including first and second degree murder along with aggravated child abuse.
A GoFundMe page has been set up for the family.
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