Man gets 40-year sentence in slaying; mom tells son's killer she forgives him

Santory Johnson is seated in the courtroom of Judge Tom Greenholtz as jury selection begins in his first-degree murder trial in the Hamilton County Criminal Court on Monday, Oct. 27, 2015, in Chattanooga.
Santory Johnson is seated in the courtroom of Judge Tom Greenholtz as jury selection begins in his first-degree murder trial in the Hamilton County Criminal Court on Monday, Oct. 27, 2015, in Chattanooga.
photo Santory Johnson gestures as he is led into the courtroom of Judge Tom Greenholtz as jury selection begins in his first-degree murder trial in Hamilton County Criminal Court on Oct. 27, 2015.
photo Christopher Jones

Weeping as she spoke, a mother told her son's murderer at his sentencing hearing she forgives him, even as she described how his actions were destroying her family.

Santory Johnson, 37, was convicted Oct. 30 of second-degree murder in the 2013 slaying of his longtime friend, Christopher Jones, 24, during a party at Johnson's home on 40th Street in Chattanooga.

Jones' mother, Sarita Burch, took the stand in Hamilton County Criminal Court and said of Johnson that despite his actions, "I haven't lost any love or compassion for this young man, because I still consider him part of my family."

Looking straight at Johnson, Burch outlined how her family has suffered from what he did.

Her son's two children have cried for their dad, she said. "He'll never be able to take them to the playground again," she said. "They'll never be able to say, 'Dad, I love you.'"

She asked Johnson if he knew what her son's 5-year-old is most interested in: "Guns," she said, breaking into tears. "I'm trying to put into his head how dangerous they are. I'm trying, I have to."

Johnson alternately looked at Burch and stared at his feet, his head in his hands.

But when Judge Thomas Greenholtz asked Johnson if he wanted to make a statement or respond to Burch, he declined to speak.

Trial testimony showed Jones was among 15 to 30 people at an outdoor party at Johnson's house, but he left with his girlfriend, grandmother and two cousins. As they left, Johnson fired one shot into the air, which apparently upset Jones.

After ensuring his family made it home safely, Jones returned to the party and confronted Johnson. According to trial testimony, Johnson asked Jones to leave, then followed him to his car and opened fire on the driver's side. He walked to the rear of the car and fired, then walked around to the passenger side, where the window was open, thrust his gun inside and fired again.

The jury convicted Johnson of second-degree murder. That carries a sentence of 15-25 years in prison, instead of a life sentence for first-degree murder.

But at Wednesday's hearing, Greenholtz considered elements that would enhance Johnson's punishment, including two prior felony convictions, the fact that he was on probation at the time of the shooting, and his actions in following Jones out to his car to shoot him.

"Mr. Johnson instructed Mr. Jones to leave the premises, and he was doing so, but then he followed him and as he was getting into his car, proceeded to fire several rounds," Greenholtz said. "There were certainly opportunities for Mr. Johnson to stop and reflect on what he was doing."

Because of those enhancements, Greenholtz sentenced Johnson to 40 years in prison.

Hearing the sentence, Johnson made an obscene gesture toward the audience, where Burch and several members of her family were sitting. He stood, shaking his head, and said, "Forty years? That's a life sentence!"

As several sheriff's deputies rushed to surround Johnson, Greenholtz ordered him to sit down or be forcibly removed from the courtroom. Johnson sat, and later was led out of the courtroom without incident.

Contact staff writer Steve Johnson at sjohnson@timesfreepress.com, 423-757-6673, on Twitter @stevejohnsonTFP, and on Facebook, www.face book.com/noogahealth.

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