Tadaris Antonio Johnson, a 25-year-old resident of Pensacola, Florida, passed away on Saturday, May 20, 2023. His death was the result of a drive-by shooting that occurred during a large gathering on Paula Avenue in Escambia County.
The incident involved a stolen vehicle, a white Hyundai Sonata, which had been stolen in February 2023. The drive-by shooting resulted in Johnson's death and also left another man with a gunshot wound to the leg.
Law enforcement recovered the stolen car a day later in an empty wooded lot on N T Street.
The investigation led to the identification of 19-year-old Jaquaris Ethridge as a suspect in the murder. Ethridge was initially arrested on June 24, 2023, for his involvement in a different fatal drive-by shooting that killed 70-year-old Myra Hayes. During his interrogation, Ethridge was confronted with evidence related to Johnson's homicide. He admitted to being in the car during the drive-by but claimed he was not the shooter. According to Ethridge, another man was the intended target, not Johnson or the other victim.
Following his admission, Ethridge was officially charged with Johnson's murder on July 3, 2023. He is currently facing charges related to both homicides and has a court date scheduled for September 24, 2023.
Johnson's funeral services included a visitation on Friday, June 2, 2023, at Christian Family Funeral, and a celebration of life on Saturday, June 3, 2023, at First Baptist Church in Warrington, Florida.
