On October 31, 2024, police officers in Wentzville, Missouri, responded to a residence in the 100 block of Katie Lynn Court following reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, authorities discovered the lifeless body of 28-year-old BreAnna L. Johnson in a bathroom hallway. Johnson, a female, had sustained multiple gunshot wounds, with an autopsy later revealing she had been shot five times, four of which were in the back. At the time of her death, she was four months pregnant with twins.
Her two other young children, a six-month-old and a nearly two-year-old, were present in the home during the incident but were found physically unharmed.
The investigation quickly focused on Johnson’s live-in boyfriend and the father of her children, 39-year-old Darryl K. Tyson Jr., who was at the scene. Tyson initially claimed self-defense, alleging that he woke up to Johnson pointing a firearm at him, which prompted him to retrieve his own weapon and fire. However, the forensic evidence contradicting his account—specifically the location of the victim's wounds—led investigators to challenge this narrative. Authorities also noted a history of domestic disturbance at the residence; just one day prior to the shooting, police had responded to a call where Tyson allegedly assaulted Johnson by throwing a phone at her, striking her in the head.
Law enforcement arrested Tyson, and he was initially held on charges related to the domestic assault that occurred the day before the shooting. Following further investigation and the findings of a St. Charles County Grand Jury, the charges were significantly upgraded. Tyson was indicted on three counts of first-degree murder, accounting for the death of Johnson and her two unborn twins. Additionally, he faces three counts of armed criminal action and one count of second-degree domestic assault. He was ordered to be held on a cash-only bond as the legal proceedings commenced.
