RACINE — An investigation into a June 12 shooting in the City of Racine eventually led to the arrest of a 17-year-old Racine man on a felony drug-related charge.
Mario Johnson is charged with possession with intent to deliver fentanyl, which carries a maximum potential prison term of 15 years and a $50,000 fine.
Johnson also is charged with felony bail-jumping and misdemeanor disorderly conduct. The bail-jumping charge carries a prison term of six years and a $10,000 fine.
Criminal court records show that Johnson remains in custody in the Racine County Jail on a $40,000 cash bond. Johnson is due back in Racine County Circuit Court on Aug. 8.
According to the criminal complaint:
Police responded to the 1600 block of Kearney Avenue on June 12 for a shots fired call. It was later discovered someone had been shot in the back.
The victim reportedly was sitting in a minivan on Kearney when he was shot. The victim ran to a nearby home of a relative, collapsed outside and then was rushed to the hospital by that relative.
People at the scene identified the shooter as “Roro,” who later was determined to be the defendant.
A witness told police the victim, Johnson and two others were on the corner of 17th Street and Kearney Avenue, near a mini-mart store. Video later showed that Johnson dropped a baggie into the sewer drain as he exited a red Chevy Tahoe.
As the group attempted to get the bag out, the victim and others allegedly joked about one of the young men looking like a girl as he tried to retrieve the baggie, which made Johnson mad. At that point, the victim and Johnson got into a physical altercation.
The witness who gave the statement went back to her residence and then heard gunshots, the complaint states. The victim then ran into her home with another one of the men who had been at the corner.
Police, with the assistance of Department of Public Works employees, were able to retrieve the baggie, which contained nine pills that later tested positive for 1.9 grams of fentanyl.
Criminal court records show that Johnson currently faces felony charges of possession of narcotic drugs, possession of cocaine and possession with intent to deliver fentanyl in a separate case.
Johnson was free from custody on a $2,000 cash and $10,000 signature bond, which led to the felony bail-jumping charge in the current case.
